Missouri General Assembly

Governor Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon

Office of the Governor

201 West Capitol Avenue

Jefferson City, MO 65102

Re: Commutation of Sentence of Jeffrey G. Mizanskey

Dear Governor Nixon:

We, the undersigned members of the Missouri General Assembly, petition you to exercise the authority

vested within your title to commute the sentence of Jeffrey George Mizanskey, who is currently serving a

sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in accordance with Missouri’s prior and

persistent drug offender statute 195.211.2 RSMo 1993 supp. Article IV, Section 7, of the Missouri Constitution

establishes the ability of the Governor to grant commutation, which the undersigned deem appropriate in this

case.

Jeff Mizanskey received his sentence of life without parole solely for convictions involving marijuana

offenses. His first two convictions involved very small amounts of marijuana. Mr. Mizanskey was apprehended

on December 19, 1993 for his third offense. He was ultimately convicted of possession with intent to deliver or

distribute approximately seven pounds of marijuana. Based on Mr. Mizanskey’s prior offenses, he was

sentenced under Missouri’s then recently-enacted prior and persistent drug offender statute.

The undersigned elected officials, representing a diverse number of constituencies throughout our state,

all agree that the level of punishment imposed upon Mr. Mizanskey was unjust and disproportionate to his

offenses. Thanks to the criminal code revision passed by the Legislature in 2014, no future marijuana-only

offenders will receive a sentence of life without parole. Unfortunately for Mr. Mizanskey, he is the only person

during the twenty-one year history of Missouri’s prior and persistent offender statute to receive a sentence of

life without parole solely for marijuana offenses.

Our state houses more than 31,000 inmates at a cost to taxpayers of $57.18 each day per offender, or

$20,870 per year per offender. Since the start of his incarceration, Mr. Mizanskey’s imprisonment has cost

Missouri taxpayers over $400,000.

The case of Mr. Mizanskey represents a transformational opportunity for criminal justice in the State of

Missouri. We must endeavor to ensure that the punishment fits the crime. In this case, Jeffrey George

Mizanskey’s crimes have not produced enough harm to justify a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

We call upon you as our Chief Executive to act to commute this sentence of life imprisonment in an

effort to balance the scales of justice. The commutation power entrusted in the Missouri Governor is immense

and to be discharged with restraint and discipline. In this instance, the undersigned feel that the call to action is

compelling and should be taken up as soon as possible.

It has been more than twenty years since Jeffrey George Mizanskey walked into the Super 8 Motel in

Sedalia, sealing his fate inside the walls of the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Mr. Mizanskey’s children are

now adults who have blessed him with seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Now 62 years old, the

non-violent Mr. Mizanskey languishes in a taxpayer-funded correctional facility. Without your intervention, he

will never be able to regain his freedom and reunite with his family.

Please consider our request and let us know how we can be of assistance in moving forward with

commuting the sentence of Jeffrey George Mizanskey as soon as possible.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,