Jerry Herron’s Story
First and foremost, I would like you to know that I take full responsibility for the actions that transpired in my adolescence. Many lives were impacted, and I am extremely remorseful and sorry for the damage I caused in my immaturity. But most importantly, I am redeemable, and I have invested years of my incarceration focusing exclusively on programming and rehabilitating my life in preparation for this crossroad of assessment and judgment to be considered for mercy. Throughout this website, I have divested my thoughts that are based on my experiences with the criminal justice system and the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
This website was not created and designed to slander or even point fingers at the above listed administrations. I am glad to be able to tell you my story and explain the disparities that served as an anchor in my pursuit of justice. I thank you for taking the time to read and investigate all the essential and critical documents that disclose the truth behind my case and disclose the truth regarding the redemption and change I now represent. My future of clemency and parole now rest in the hands of you—Arkansas Citizens, the Arkansas Post-Prison Transfer Board, and Governor’s office—for which I trust! I can unequivocally announce that I will not ever break the law after fulfilling this mission of saving my life because I now respect the law and justice!
Jerry’s Childhood
I have concluded that in life it’s easier to look back and reminisce than to look forward and predict how your life will end up. However, to understand how my appetite for criminal behavior started, we would have to venture further back to when I was around 8 or 9 years old, which is when the cycle of my childhood trauma started to take course.
The following events and factors shall be examined in context of the pre-adolescent, but lifelong conditions caused by or related to trauma. These factors range from mental illness and neurological disorders to poor intellectual functioning and behavioral problems that were coupled with community and domestic violence, to segregated poverty. All the above set me directly on the school-to-prison pipeline course.
I was not born a criminal, nor did I reserve aspirations to lose the initial stages of my life to mass incarceration. It was 1984; that was the year that my biological father, Jerry Herron Sr., was murdered in Stuttgart. After that, on any day, I could be playing in the front yard and see the man that murdered my father—the person remotely responsible for creating the dysfunctional household for me, my mother, and sisters.
I am the middle child, and for me my childhood was compounded with so much sympathy and compassion, as in any small town where everyone knows everyone. The loss of my father evoked hugs, kisses, and statements like “you look just like your father”. Because of his popularity, the love and respect trickled down to me, but unfortunately, I did not remember his presence in my life! My mother, Darlene—a widow and single parent of 3 kids—took on the challenge of balancing work, the army national guard, and her business. The situation created a combustion of pressure.
I watched my mother take upon the challenge to provide a home and sense of normalcy for me and my siblings to the best of her capacity. I started my initial childhood education at Immanuel Christian School, for which is one of the historical black schools in Arkansas County. I then transferred to public school in Stuttgart. This is also where I feel that my lack of direction and inability to grasp the consequences of my actions shifted to attention-seeking and impulsive decision making. I was in the principal’s office for disciplinary reasons several times.
In elementary school, I felt that I wanted to be a good student, but just did not know how because of what was uprising behind the scenes domestically. It was 1987-88, four years after my father was murdered, and tragedy impacted our lives again! My mother, who had been the sole provider in our homestead, received the worst diagnosis. That diagnosis completely shifted her desire to be the best mother because she had to fight for her own life! She was diagnosed with early-stage multiple sclerosis and was losing her ability to walk. This equated to an inability to provide for her kids.
My mother traveled all over the United States with kids in tow for experimental medical trial runs in search of a cure. She depleted all her savings on medication and travel expenses only to learn that it was no recourse. This disease was what ultimately triggered my belief that it was on me to provide for my family.
Sure, like most kids, I reserved a host of interests. I was a bike rider. I liked to fish, hunt, and play sports. I was active in church, boy scouts, and karate. I involved myself in as many activities that I could without parental direction or extra money. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened next, for which would be the generational curse that plagued so many households and families navigating the late 1980s to 1990s.
Middle School
Shifting from elementary school to middle school was a transition leading into the 1990s. All neighborhoods were combining for the first time, and as a student, I was excited to finally be able to meet and compete with other kids. Also, going to school meant that I could escape the things that were going on behind the scenes in our home. I could also escape the infamous 4 corners of Stuttgart, Arkansas: Maple, Porter, Lowe, and Spring Streets.
That was the primary zone for all violent crime in Stuttgart. Unfortunately, that became my primary classroom that required all my attention! The crime scene exploded in the 1990s, ushering in gangs, violent crime, and crack cocaine. These markets especially attracted young minority males like me.
To protect these markets, these young males had to rely heavily on handguns. This process led to an explosive increase in the use of handguns for self-protection. This triggered an explosive growth in homicide and robbery. When this epidemic found its way into our home, I knew that our family was spiraling out of control.
Our mother was no longer able to work. The M.S. had rendered her handicapped. Plus, her mental health had taken a toll due to the pressure of trying to pay the bills and provide food for the family. The social security was just enough to get us from month to month; we all shifted into survival mode. I felt trapped. I was compelled to at least try to make a way in my childhood upbringing. The first education I ever learned was how to run the streets and survive. Please allow the record to reflect that I do not want to glorify this course at all!
With no male role models, mentors, or authoritarian figures to guide me beyond the overarching caste that plagued our neighborhood, I ventured beyond the selling of candy at school, mowing lawns, and washing cars to selling crack in the hood. Like most impulsive kids, I was breaking these laws well before I was able to interpret the consequences of what this lifestyle would bring at the instance of one wrong turn or inevitable mistake.
I was trying to navigate school, the streets, and trying to hide the bad acts of selling drugs from my family. I was kicked out of many places and exchanged to anyone that would allow me space for the night. My refuge was the street life for many years. For me this equated freedom since there were no curfews or anyone to suggest that I relinquish the behavior that led to the birth of my first child, Joshua.
Teenage Years
My son’s birth inspired my effort to adjust to fatherhood. Keep in mind I was a kid that did not even have my own father present! I instantly assumed that being able to provide for my son was what it meant to be a kid. I found myself navigating "cross the tracks" in search of my lost identity, which was consumed by the streets. This is also the time period I received my first felony for first-degree battery.
I was charged as an adult. This was the first time I had been to jail. My ticket for the "school-to-prison pipeline" was contracted with the Arkansas County Judicial System for a term of 36 months. I asked my attorney to delay this for as long as he could. While I'm staring at the prison in my peripheral, I knew that since I had pleaded guilty, I would have to report to prison for the first time.
Even then, in anticipation of being taken to prison, I continued business as usual. By 1997 at the ripe age of 17, the pressures that derived from the secular life of hustling in the streets had me so lost in the moment. The vices that are synonymous with this lifestyle are starting to take a toll as I find out that I would be expecting my second child. My daughter, Tyriona, was born in January 1998. This is the same month that the Arkansas County Sheriff's office informed me that the Arkansas Department of Corrections was ready for me to turn myself in to begin my sentence.
The fear instantly kicked in because now all the stories I had heard about prison, including gang fights, were about to be my reality. I assumed this would be my reality forever! After about 1 year after my reporting call, I turned myself in and landed in prison for the first time on October 3, 1999. My transfer date was November 18, 1999. Upon receiving my time card, I realized that I would be home for Thanksgiving the next month!
Excited, I'm showing and telling everyone else in prison, not knowing that would place a target on my back. Before I was able to get paroled, I ended up in a fight and my time was extended for 1 year. At that time, I enrolled in Riverside Vo-tech and learned HVAC trade. I believed this would allow me to return home and secure a job at Lennox, the largest manufacturing company of air conditions. So, I awaited my release home after being under pressure for years from my life in the streets.
My auntie was in the parking lot waiting for me to exit prison for the first time, but I could not say that it would be my last. Like most men leaving prison I was happy! I was 19 years old and returning to Stuttgart.
The drive home was filled with a briefing of all the things that were going on and wrong in the family. This only reminded me that not too much had changed, except my absence. It is now the year 2000 and I'm home and ready to see my kids, mother, grandparents, but most importantly the streets! Sure, I reserved good intentions after making my rounds to see my family and friends, but this meant I had to venture into the infamous 4 corner zone. My welcome was full circle. I had not even been released for two days before I was being asked for drugs.
No matter where I went, my criminal history interfered with the process of searching for a company to give me a chance or should I say my first job! I placed forward a valiant effort that was running up against time. I suspect that I was home for about two weeks before I was already in violation of my parole conditions by possessing and selling drugs again! In these childhood upbringings, that's essentially what I was: a kid, lost in a cycle of illiteracy, trapped and confined to the lifestyle that I knew or believed that I was good at doing. What I could not predict; however, was the anger, resentment, and danger that comes with reclaiming drug territory. You instantly become a target for being robbed and killed. This was all while trying to dodge the police, sheriff, and parole officers who were investigating my unbecoming conduct. I did not even have time to give myself a real chance to change and take on a new course of life that was not infringing upon public safety.
As a kid, I always wanted to be a truck driver. Stuttgart is the rice and duck capital of the world. Since rice distribution is the primary import and export, there were always 18-wheelers in the lot across from my house. I just believed that being on a truck could take me far away from Stuttgart.
The School-to-Prison Pipeline: A National Epidemic
“I was not born a criminal, nor did I reserve aspirations to lose the initial stages of my life to mass incarceration. The school-to-prison pipeline is a harsh reality that many like me fall victim to, compounded by the age crime curve that captures vulnerable youths at their most impressionable ages.” - Jerry Herron
The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished, and pushed out.
Key factors contributing to this pipeline include zero-tolerance policies that mandate harsh punishments for both major and minor infractions, increased police presence in schools, and the use of suspensions and expulsions. These practices disproportionately affect students of color and those with disabilities, contributing to a cycle of disadvantage and disenfranchisement.
Jerry Herron's story intersects with this narrative. His journey from a troubled youth to a convicted young man highlights the failures of a system that often criminalizes rather than educates. By addressing and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, we can prevent future injustices and offer children the support they need to thrive, rather than condemning them to a life behind bars or on the streets.
The Day Jerry’s Life Changed Forever
But my story did not turn out that way. My truth is that on the day Landers died, I never woke up with the intention to murder or cause harm to anyone! Remorsefulness has cultivated in my heart and mind for years because of my actions. The victim, Landers Stigger, had a weapon and started shooting at my co-defendant, Torry Timmons. After seeing Landers pull a gun and start shooting at Torry, I feared for my life. Upon pulling my weapon and sticking it in the passenger window, my arm and the gun were instantly grabbed by the passenger. A struggle for possession of the gun ensued, pushing it forward and causing 1 shot to discharge through the windshield and another shot in an unknown direction. I never took aim at Landers Stigger and don’t even really know to this day if my weapon is the one who killed him.
The bullet fragments were removed from Mr. Stigger and came back from the crime lab as inconclusive. It could not be determined which gun discharged the bullet that killed Landers, even though they recovered both my and the co-defendants' guns for bullet testing. It was determined that Torry Timmons shot at Landers Stigger 8 times from the rear of the Jeep, all while I was fighting on the passenger side to retain possession of my gun. My co-defendant, Torry Timmons, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on second-degree murder, and I was sentenced to life in prison on a capital murder charge. Torry only served a couple of years before he was released on bond, then went back to prison right after that for another murder charge in Texas.
Anyone reviewing my website should know that as the investigative reports confirmed, I was engaged in a struggle over my weapon with the passenger of the vehicle when those 2 shots discharged from my gun. This occurred after Torry was already shooting at Landers. With no control, I never took aim or intended to shoot anyone and regret everything that happened that day. Read the incident report HERE.
The Murder Conviction
From the moment the judge hit the gavel, in my mind and heart I knew that once disclosed, “the truth would set me free". That belief is what compelled me to better understand the criminal justice system. It is a system that is intricately designed to capitalize off the illiteracy of young men that are impulsive, easily influenced, and incapable of making sound decisions that will leverage them beyond the school-to-prison pipeline. When I first entered prison, I was a reflection of the beliefs and living environment that I derived from. I knew nothing about the laws or what would result if I committed a crime. My mentality was don't get caught or snitch on yourself or anyone.
So, staring at life from a point of no return, I conceded that this is not where I was supposed to be, nor will this be where I will die! I had to become that walking, talking justice advocate for myself because this system is designed to keep you in. It is designed to keep you suppressed mentally and physically, while not offering any resources to aid you in your pursuit for justice or freedom. The system focuses on carrying out the mandate of the courts while placing timelines and restrictions on how you can access justice or courts for appeals.
Making that transition mentally was not something that came easy when I first arrived in prison. I had to learn without a teacher or professor to say, “Jerry, you’re on the right track”, or “you have to sign your Rule 37 Petition or the court will dismiss it for verification”, or “your ineffective assistance of counsel claim will be dismissed”. To get justice, I believed that it would always come down to the advertisement of injustice. This would then evoke public accountability for not having a fair and impartial jury trial as the Constitution guarantees. Achieving justice can be so complicated once you are confined to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
My actions and involvement were unbecoming and will be the reasoning for my community service to at-risk youth. I hope to inspire a different course of life by displaying the transformation I have made. I am carrying a mandate upon my life to never break another law or commit any crimes no matter what I may be going through; it’s not worth my freedom after spending all these years in pursuit of freedom! For me, transitioning home is when I can really showcase my regrets and remorse by the services and actions that I display. I look forward to offering my experiences and knowledge to the many young men that may be lost trying to play the game of chance that comes with running the streets!
Read Jerry’s Apology Letter to Landers Stigger mother and her reply HERE.
The support of my family and friends over the last 23+ years has been remarkable. I will say the support varied over different phases, timelines, and family circumstances. In those initial years after I was sentenced to life, my family would say how powerless they felt. If you reflect back to the state of the world and economy, it was hard to generate funding to even hire a private attorney.
I remember looking out from prison praying, hoping that someone would come to rescue me from the encroaching walls of justice closing in on me. I remember begging, pleading with my family to come together and hire me a private attorney, but to no avail. The reality was that the amount of a capital murder defense was north of $30,000—an impossible challenge that caused my family to just ghost me. This explains the early discipline I received for attempting to continue my street trade craft in prison, just searching for a way to help myself, only to learn that I could not defy God’s course upon my life. You must lead by example, and I could not ask my family to invest in the person that led me here. I had to change!
My family has truly invested so much, not just financially, but emotionally to ensure that I'm able to lead a stress-free life as I fight for justice! From supporting my kids on my behalf, to visitation, phone calls, to commissary, I cannot thank them all enough for their support and I will be forever indebted to my friends and family. Since 2017, when we discovered juror misconduct, my family and friends have raised and invested over $40k for appellant fees, for which if I had reserved on the front side of trial, I would not have received any time!
Because of how I was raised, it was instilled in me that I will always reserve a moral obligation to bridge my family over from the elderly to the youth. Not being able to fulfill these mandates for years has certainly altered my identity and perspective. Yet, it has also reminded me that someday I will be in this space where I can display the true character and love that I reserve for my family and friends that have invested in my life, rather it be financially or with emotional support, wisdom, or prayers to God!
Along with my family investing in me, I have invested my time wisely and managed it well. After being sentenced to life, I was intentional about committing to rehabilitation. I showcased this through my letter writing, phone calls, and visitation. I strived to display the changes that were manifesting in my life. In the streets I had taken on a toxic lifestyle and mindset. Now, I embrace the notion that I'm capable of being great at something other than running the streets and hustling.
But most importantly, my family has been anticipating my arrival home for years now! That is what has been circumventing as we navigated this appellant process. Their support still stands to ensure a successful transition home to accompany LaWanda and her plans. I am motivated by my family every day. I love them all unconditionally, whether they have supported me or not!
The Plea Deal
The letter is self-explanatory, but I would like to bring our audience into my state of mind when I was offered a plea bargain. Plea bargaining raises serious unconstitutional concerns that span both the Fifth and Sixth amendments. When defendants accept a plea offer from the government, they must waive a series of rights and agree to speak on the record about their guilt to obtain the benefit of a reduced set of charges or a reduced punishment; such reduction is generally only available to those who admit their guilt.
Read more facts and statistics about plea bargains HERE.
When one looks even superficially at the mechanics of a plea deal, the trade off of rights for benefits becomes apparent. One must waive the right to a jury trial, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, and the right against self-incrimination. These are collectively known as the Boykin rights, after Boykin v. Alabama. People who give up their right to a jury trial are also giving up the right to contest or even to see the government evidence. Thus, the waiver implicitly includes wavier of potential evidentiary challenges under the Fourth, Fifth, and Six Amendments as well as a waiver of the Six Amendment right to the assistance of counsel.
In return for this bounty of waivers, a person will received a reduced charge or set of charges, and/or a reduced sentence for the crime(s) of conviction. The prosecution does not have to offer a deal, and a person under indictment does not have to accept the offer on the prosecution's terms; they can reject it or counteroffer as they see fit.
A person who rejects the deal will eventually get a trial, which is what the Constitution guarantees. But comparably, few people pursue that route, whether in state or federal court. The overwhelming majority of filed criminal cases conclude with a plea bargain. So that's why I was very surprised when my cell door opened in isolation, as the unit had me under observation upon returning from court with a life sentence.
It was a letter from Public Defender Molock, asking me about my decision to appeal my case and asking if I wanted to consider the post-plea offer from the government. Conflicted, I laid there thinking why would the Prosecution want to reduce my life sentence to 30 years on first-degree murder, which would require me to serve 21 years if I forfeit my right to appeal? I had two weeks to decide and return my notice of appeal.
Please note that upon being apprehended for this charge, I waited two years before going to trial. The entire wait time, I was here at the Varner Unit. Institutional visitation records will reveal that in preparation for my capital murder defense, I met with the public defender one time on the unrelated drug charge that I plead guilty to. The day before I was scheduled to go to trial, I arrived at the county jail and the public defender showed up with a plea offer from the government: 30 years on second-degree murder, which would require me to serve 7 years before being eligible for parole.
Now, when I show this document and relay this story, everyone always asks me why I did not take the plea. I’m quick to say: First, in my immaturity, 7 years seemed like a long time! But most importantly, I had not visited with the public defender one time in relation to my capital murder charge. Dennis Molock never even asked me if I committed this crime, but in turn, he reserved a plea offer for 30 years on second-degree murder. Plus, I had to make a decision without being able to speak with my family or consult with anyone that could even influence me that the plea was a plausible offer to consider.
So, upon refusing the offer, Mr. Molock pulls out his pen and pad and asks me what happened for the first time 24 hours before we are scheduled to proceed to trial. Not one witness was called on my behalf throughout the entire trial process. Most importantly, I believed that my case was a manslaughter case from the beginning. Electing my right to proceed to trial, I reserved the belief that the jury would be instructed on manslaughter, which only carries 10 years; I would be eligible for parole after serving 2 years of my sentence.
As we proceeded to trial, it was not until the conclusion that I learned that the jury would receive all the other lesser included offense instructions except manslaughter 5-10-104. Emotional disturbance, fear, and a brandished weapon crosses the threshold of the slightest evidence that would require the court to instruct the jury on manslaughter. They failed to instruct. So, when I received that letter from Dennis Molock, I assumed that because I was sentenced to life in prison, I would get an automatic direct appeal. This would reveal the mistake and warrant a new trial. I thought the state wanted to prevent this miscarriage of justice from being exposed and the only way to clean house was to contain this trial error jurisdictionally.
Be mindful, failure to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of manslaughter when supported by the slightest evidence is an error protected by the Supreme Court of Arkansas. As I reflected in isolation, I concluded that something went wrong during the course of trial. How could it not? Dennis Molock asked to be relieved from my direct appeal because he was representing 88 felony clients at the time. But most importantly, he did not investigate nor properly prepare to defend me from these capital proceedings. So, upon signing the Notice of Appeal, I concluded that trusting in the appellate process for relief was the best option for me. This is how I elected to take upon the task of studying and learning law.
My initial focus was on the jury for failure to instruct. At this time, I had no idea about the stealth juror misconduct. However, after understanding how my post-conviction appeal for ineffective assistance of counsel went, it now makes sense why the trial court could not afford an official inquiry into my jury. They either knew or found out that an ineligible juror was used, and they did not want the Honorable Judge David Henry's first murder conviction since being sworn in as Judge to be reversed and remanded for a new trial.
Back at the unit, I had been removed from isolation only to be confronted with an overwhelming number of questions. Those that knew the elements of my crime knew that I was fighting over my gun when it discharged. The victim possessed a weapon and shot my co-defendant in the arm, proving that I was being threatened and my life was in danger. So, if I don't defend myself, I lose my life in the streets that day. Or I defend myself and go to trial and lose my life, which is a no-win situation.
Jerry Finds Out About Juror Misconduct
The first jury trial that I had ever witnessed in my life happened to be my own capital murder case. I had no idea how these proceedings went, but I instantly knew once we entered into the aspect of jury selection. The judge asked a question that still to this day resonates in my memory: "If any of you know the defendants and feel that you can't render a fair and impartial decision for any reason, please stand and state your reasoning." Simultaneously, all the black people started standing, offering up their reasons for not wanting to be a part of this trial. This left our juror pool to be composed of 11 white people and 1 lone black juror.
I always wondered who this lone black juror was as I continued to try to understand how this jury reached their decision to convict me and sentence me to life for defending my life from imminent danger. So, I started asking questions of whom this black juror was in hopes that she would be willing to speak with me. Through social media, I was able to locate her daughter, Erin, and we exchanged letters and phone conversation. During this process she informed me that her mother was never supposed to have been a juror on my case because her brother (the juror's son) was murdered in Dallas, Texas! I found that out in 2016-17. After that, we instantly launched our own investigation to confirm the validity of this newly discovered evidence. We hired private investigators to compose a briefing and finding of facts to confirm this life altering information that I instantly knew and believed would warrant a New Trial order! But that never happened.
Other Constitutional Violations
Being Appointed a Public Defender: After I was sentenced to life, public defender Dennis Molock, asked the court to be relieved from my case. He was representing 88 felony clients, which explains why he was not prepared for a capital murder trial and why we did not have a strategy defense to support my admission plea of self-defense/justification: A.C.A 5-2-607. This would have equated emotional disturbance manslaughter: A.C.A. 5-10-104.
I have studied murder cases that date back from the years 2000-2024, from appellant decision of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Out of all the murder cases from then to now, I'm the only defendant in the state of Arkansas to be convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murder, where the victim possesses a weapon and shoots the co-defendant in my case. Talk about an anomaly, this is our truth and mitigating factor to leverage favorable endorsements of our campaign for clemencyforjerryherron.
Upon being sentenced to life in the state of Arkansas, you get a direct review. Because Dennis Molock was relieved as counsel on my direct appeal and because I elected to turn down the post-trial plea offer of 30 years on first-degree murder, I elected to file my notice of appeal. I was then appointed the prominent attorneys Bill James and Lee Short to process my direct appeal.
This was the first form of hope that I had received. I was thinking these attorneys from Little Rock are smart and not a part of the Arkansas County Trial Court System. It’s no way they won’t be able to get my case overturned. Every appeal in the state of Arkansas takes about one year to process. So, I’m going through the motions, writing to the James Law Firm, informing them of everything that I thought went wrong in my case. I did all this only to never hear from his office directly. I did not hear from the James Law firm until my direct appeal was denied. Then, Bill James goes on to tell me that the only issues that he could raise are the "objections" that are a part of the record—severance and directed verdict. He recommended that I file ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC), and the clock was ticking to make that decision.
Because post-conviction ineffective assistance of counsel claims are not included in the direct appeal, attorneys have no reason to care about their performance. To add, a majority of IAC claims are filed by "pro se" litigants, which results in most claims being dismissed on some sort of technicality. My case is a prime example of how something as simple as your signature can deny you a post-conviction appeal. Had I been able to file for IAC on my direct appeal, my case would have been reversed and remanded for a new trial. However, I filed my own claim with no money to hire an attorney, time guidelines running, and I was navigating all the land mines that come with prison.
So, when we talk about reform, I would start with holding public defenders accountable for abandoning clients that are indigent and unable to hire a paid attorney to mount a defense to their case. If these public defenders knew that IAC claims were wrapped into the direct appeal, they would be very cautious on the standard of defense they present. Because they know no one is there to police their representation, they are able to underperform and not be held accountable.
Plus, forcing a defendant to proceed "pro se" on any appeal is unjust, especially when there is no system of help inside of the prison to assist you with your claims. Even when it was time to file my federal appeal, by the time that I received the documents to fill it out, I was completely overwhelmed and mentally exhausted from trying to keep up with the time guidelines. This injustice is continuing today, while other states have shifted to appoint counsel at all levels of appeal.
This narrative leads us back to the "truth shall set you free," acknowledging that local jurisdictional trial courts can administer unjust proceedings, often unnoticed due to the disproportionate number of illiterate defendants. When cast into mass incarceration without a fair trial, it is the trial court’s hope that individuals like me will accept their life sentences without further challenge. This allows them to bury constitutional errors like those in my trial and appellate process. However, we have the record that will prompt legal scholars to recognize the correlated errors and endorse my application for clemency.
Jerry’s Work Life in Prison
Over the last 23 years, I have shifted through many different work details at particular phases. Upon the initial years I was chasing all the programming that I could acquire. In the state of Arkansas, when you are sentenced to life in prison, you don't qualify for programs that an inmate with parole dates do. So, I had to network with the wardens and chiefs of security at the units in hopes that they would consider my initiative and desire for self-improvement. This would convince them to waive protocol and allow me to participate.
If I were at a unit that did not offer any programming, then I would request to transfer. For example, I was at the Cummins Unit, the largest unit in the state with the most inmates. This unit offered me no rehabilitation programming, so I grieved this issue and was transferred to a minimum-security unit in Pine Bluff. This was the diagnostic hospital that housed inmates confined to wheelchairs and inmates diagnosed with a terminal illness. At the diagnostic hospital, I was an all-terrain inmate that filled in where they needed me.
I was assigned as the shoeshine attendee. However, what came easy for me was assisting the disabled inmates get up and down the hallways to chow or the infirmary. While there, I had full access to any programming that was being facilitated at the unit. I was also in pursuit of the highest classification that an inmate can obtain—1B status. This allows an inmate to be screened for a job at the State Police Headquarters or the Governor’s Mansion. This is the only goal that has eluded me in prison thus far. From Pine Bluff to Tucker to Grady, most all my jobs have been in administration working closely with personnel. No assignment has challenged me.
I'm currently the Law Library Clerk here at the Varner Unit. My daily job consists of issuing documents, such as administrative regulations and directives to the inmate population. I also do case research for inmates with pending charges. For example, if someone comes in and says they have a particular charge pending, I will find them case law from cases akin to theirs. Then they can decipher what happened in that person’s circumstance, in hopes to offer them the curriculum to know how to instruct their attorneys that are representing them.
No, I do not work on cases, nor am I a jailhouse lawyer that plays upon the overwhelming population that suffers from illiteracy for gain. All my contributions are pledged to inspire some hope in these guys that may feel they have no other option but to give up! As a leader and mentor to inmates, I also facilitate orientation for the new commitments arriving at the Varner Unit. These sessions can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number of inmates that arrive. On any given orientation day, it can be 2-20 inmates in attendance. I have been doing this for about 3 years. I have also spoken on the Inmate Panel to a group of kids from Pine Bluff Schools. I'm so honored and humble to be entrusted with this duty.
I have been here over ten years and have worked all over this prison, from administrative porter to hoe squad. To be able to let these guys know how to advance themselves and work toward release gives me the opportunity to set the template and warn about all the vices of prison that can derail their journey.
Jerry’s Mother Passes Away While He’s Incarcerated
It was the first furlough I was able to take after being sentenced to life in prison. When I got the call to go to the chapel, I knew it would not be good news. Prior to my mother’s death in 2009, a series of tornados had hit Stuttgart and directly hit the nursing home that was housing my mother. Because of this, she had to be relocated to my sister’s home, where she spent her final days of suffering from multiple sclerosis. Upon receiving the notice that my mother had passed, I shifted into a different space mentally because she was by far the headliner of my pursuit for freedom! I can admit that I have not grieved my mother’s passing; I can't fully do that until I'm home to carry out my obligation and promise that I made to her as I stood over her casket and grave site.
I attempted to justify her passing, stating that she is finally free from suffering from the battle of being powerless because of M.S. Then, there are times when I blame myself for not being present, thinking that maybe I could have extended her life span by fulfilling the regulatory duties that a son would pledge to their mother and her wellbeing. All I remember is that those few hours went by so fast. My memory is vague of her funeral, or celebration of life that my oldest sister called it. I Just know that I was not in a position to be emotional or grieve when I had to be strong for my sisters, who were not handling the passing of our mother that well. But for the most part, I have a post-release mission and promise that I made to my mother. I'm looking to fulfill this and take my time to fully and freely grieve when I'm released and able to carry out the mandate I made. So, until then I'm holding back my tears.
Jerry’s Focus on Sports & Competitive Events
I have performed as a fluent inmate-athlete, participating in any and all sporting events throughout my entire prison sentence over multiple units. In the Arkansas Department of Corrections/Divisions they actually pay you for winning first place and championships in all tournaments. Watching inmates perform at a high capacity compels you to look beyond the veil of this prison caste and question just how talented some of the inmates are.
For instance, I have always been good at sports, but it did not come to fruition until I started really focusing on what I can do mentally and physically. As I competed in prison, I started working on my mind as well as on my game, rather it be basketball, volleyball, football, softball, or running. The talent seemed to come naturally so that I could easily showcase my newfound skills.
See Jerry’s Awards and Certificates for the Classes he has completed in prison as well as his certificates for winning several sports and competitive events HERE.
Jerry Meets LaWanda
Jerry Herron’s path toward redemption took a beautiful turn during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he came across a newspaper article featuring a nurse and preacher from a Presbyterian church. Struck by her story, he felt compelled to reach out, writing her a heartfelt letter, asking to learn more about the Presbyterian faith.
What began as a simple letter blossomed into a profound connection. Though COVID restrictions kept them apart physically, their connection grew stronger through letters, phone calls, and video chats. Their shared faith formed a bond that transcended the prison walls.
When they finally met, it was with a strong sense that God had brought them together, not just for companionship, but also for a greater purpose. Together, Jerry and his now fiancée are striving to show the world the person that Jerry has become and to advocate for a second chance at life outside of prison walls.
Jerry’s story is not just of one of personal transformation. Jerry’s story is also a testament to the power of God’s love to transform lives, no matter how imperfect one’s life has been. It is a testament to the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ always at work to change us and fit us for a new beginning. It is a hopeful reminder of the graciously redeemed future that God is calling into being and calling us to be a part of.
Up until I met and fell in love with LaWanda, I had envisioned taking on this challenge of reintegration all by myself. Now, I am very much assured that life is meant to be spent with someone that you can't live without or the person that makes you so much better!
That is the unified front that we have been cultivating in anticipation of my arrival home to begin this life journey that starts with one single step of first knowing that there is no need to rush, but only embrace the rarity of this true second chance that I get to live out with my best friend and wife to be!
I am anticipating living the remainder of my life as a parolee, which confines and governs every day of my life to restrictions that will be centered around homelife and supporting LaWanda and the life we create post-prison. It will surely be an adjustment period as I learn new technology and implement a regimen and routine that's quite like how I live here every single day.
The only difference is that I will be living with someone that I know has my best interests at heart, and I know will be dedicated to guiding me through all the barriers that come with re-entry and navigating this new world that I have been displaced from for over two decades.
It is all about trusting the process, and there is no way that I can predict how things may go once I am home. However, I possess no fear, trusting in my best friend, LaWanda, to stand by my side in the continuation of this journey that has become one epic love story.
I will establish a relationship with my parole officer and understand their provisions, get adjusted to our church, secure employment with as much overtime as I can get, start building new relationships with family and friends, and compliment LaWanda with my presence, forging peace, love, and happiness!
Jerry’s Plan After Prison
You may be thinking, what are my plans for the future if granted clemency and a time commutation by the governor and Arkansas Post-Prison Transfer Board? I have thought every day about what I would do if that happens. First things first, I'm looking to receive my lifelong parole plan from the parole officer and structure everything that I do from that point off the restrictions and privileges I'm allowed. Additionally, I need to have a re-bonding and meeting period with my family, friends, and supporters.
Time travel with me for a second. This is not my first time in post-release mode. Back in 2018, when we filed for our evidentiary hearing, I was convinced that I was about to be released on December 3, 2018. This was based on the laws that I had spent so many hours researching and confirming. Plus, I spent time fact-checking with my attorney, Vincent Morris. So, that morning when they told me to pack my property, I only packed the essential personal things that I wanted to take home. I gave away the remainder of my property under the assumption that I would not be coming back! At that juncture I did not know LaWanda, and I reserved a solo post-release plan that was centered around all the things that would allow me to be reintegrated back into society successfully.
If you think this situation drastically affected and changed my life, then I want to be the first to say that this situation was a blessing in disguise. Yes, it has changed my entire perception about the value of life in general, as well as my worth to my family that has needed me most. I transitioned my life over to God, and I have disciplined myself accordingly. I have adhered to the rules and regulations of this environment, while gaining knowledge. I have developed a divine respect and reality for doing what is right.
My plan this time around if I am granted clemency by the Honorable Governor of Arkansas is God first, wife, homestead, work ethic, and service to church and community with an emphasis on at-risk youth that are struggling to find their way. I hope to be the beacon for re-entry that the governor can reference when she needs proof of a reputable candidate that she commuted. I also hope my story will reinvigorate the clemency process in Arkansas, which has been stained by previous bad actors decades ago.
I welcome the opportunity to represent all the other Lifers that are counting on me to set the blueprint and standard that the Post-Prison Transfer Board will need to fairly evaluate the clemency petitions they have the authority over. And from this process it’s wash and repeat, the same process that I'm doing every single day in prison! I wake up every day searching for a way to get myself closer to the overall goal of clemency and parole! I don't have unrealistic expectations when I get home. I'm just ready to be a yard and shop rat, which will be out my back door! I want to plant me a garden and welcome family to stop by.
I know that my sole hearing and the recommendation that gets returned to the remaining members of the Board is critical. The Post-Prison Transfer Board’s votes will be based on the impression that I attached to this experience of trying to determine if I'm a "threat to public safety" and the probability of me re-offending after serving all these years fighting for another chance to "right my wrongs" and showcase what redemption looks like upon Jerry Herron, the most eligible candidate for clemency!
The blueprint all starts with the faith that I reserve in God, which empowers me to hold all my actions accountable, no matter the circumstances or how hard it gets in this transition home. I'm never ever breaking the law or placing my family in this predicament again!
So, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the most beautiful woman that I have ever met! LaWanda, she's going to be my wife, which equates an entirely different responsibility and personal oath to ensure that I manage the obligations that are associated with being a husband of valor! This means being a husband ready to secure those acres and homestead on the outskirts of city that will give us the country living while having access to the city amenities to share with my wife-to-be. Then we get to my work ethic and drive. I have a very strong work ethic, which will help build the foundation of our financial portfolio that will one day free our time from work and allow us to be able to be fully engage in our service to the church and the community we reside in.
I will live my new life slowly and methodically. I fully understand that I will be under supervision for the remainder of my life. This comes with intense scrutiny and the revolving expectations that I could be sent back to prison. By embracing and living in this notion, my life will be all about reinforcing LaWanda's dreams and aspirations for what she would like our household and family to be. I'm just a complimentary piece to her life that will be happy to just have that second chance to live out some of my childhood dreams that I envision upon thinking of marriage, kids, and the American dream of financial and time freedom. In prison I discovered my work ethic, which confirmed that I understand the value of being consistent and prompt.
Parole is essentially transferring the same behaviors that I display here in prison to the outside. I hope to have a successful transition home, and I want to be an example to other parolees who are working to be a part of the post-prison success rate.
Occupation and Job Security
I have been studying for my CDL license over the past four years and I have several business plans that will allow me to be an owner operator. This will allow me to market my work ethic and drive, showcasing my entrepreneurial creativity and passion for business that's a part of my overall plan of action. I know that I need seed capital, so I am currently searching for felon friendly companies that would be willing to write a letter of support stating their intention to give me a chance at employment.
LaWanda has been to job fairs to speak with potential criminal friendly jobs in Arkansas. She has distributed my cover letter and resume. I have a particular interest in construction with framing as the skill set that I would like to learn. With recidivism rates high the first 1-3 years, I'm looking to work two jobs if needed to ensure that my social and adaptation skills are adjusting. So, if you know anyone that is willing to hire a felon, please get in contact with me.
Truck driving or hotshot trucking will be one of those side gigs that will allow me that eco system of passive income to aid in my productivity. In addition to studying law, financial literacy, business management, global marketing, day trading, stocks and bonds, I'm also into sales. If the opportunity to pursue corporate sales in some capacity presents itself, then I'm ready to represent that company! Taking into consideration that things don't always go as planned, I'm confident that I will not quit!
Re-Entry Programming
I'm looking to network and explore any groups or classes associated with re-entry. I want to incorporate some civic engagement and community volunteer service that's assembled around at-risk youth struggling to find their way. For me personally, establishing my domestication to compliment LaWanda is also important. This will be the first time that we get to know each other outside of prison restrictions. This will be my first time ever living with a woman or navigating the responsibilities that are wrapped into domestic relations and household responsibility.
Transportation
I have been asking around to see if anyone has an extra car I can borrow until I can make enough money to secure one. In the meantime, LaWanda will add me to her car insurance so we can share her car. Little Rock also has a bus system I can use if needed. Also, I will be looking to buy a used car if anyone reading this knows of something for sale that is reasonably priced. I don’t need anything fancy, just something I can buy that will get me from home to work each day.
Public Speaking and Volunteering within the Community
I get plenty of public speaking practice from leading the orientation sessions. I want to continue doing speaking engagements and share my story of redemption with the world. Most importantly, I want to inspire inmates sentenced to life, who may be feeling that they can never get out or overcome their circumstances. Being that walking, talking beacon of hope allows me to exhale and take pride in the services that I have provided to the Arkansas Department of Corrections/Divisions. All the programming and self-education have prepared me for the day that I find myself at this crossroad.
Over the course of my incarceration, I have strived to take part in self-change and desistance. This is in hopes of cultivating a cognitive transformation in course to that ripe age crime curve. I have become an emerging adult that’s ready to be reintegrated back into society with my new identity as a pro-social man that’s looking forward to taking on employment, marriage, civic engagement, re-entry and violence reduction advocacy across Arkansas counties that require these critical services that I have effectively programmed in.
I was presented with a series of questions to make this website. This was the first opportunity I have had to do a full diagnostic of my experiences over the last 23 years of trying to be heard from the depths of mass incarceration. There is a narrative highly associated with anyone that commits a violent crime that attaches directly to public safety, suggesting that I'm irredeemable and unable to change. I'm hoping to debunk those preconceived notions and offer the citizens of Arkansas an official template of what that criteria of change and redemption looks like when you have dedicated your entire incarceration to becoming a better person, while educating, programming and living with one goal in mind—freedom!
I am no longer a detriment or threat to the community, but rather an asset that’s ready to anchor in violence reduction through community engagement, while being that civil citizen and role model that values second chances. I have lived every day like I’m going home tomorrow, thinking that I would one day be at the crossroad where I would be seeing immunity from the very community that I damaged and violated in my immaturity.
We know that it is a negative facade strongly associated with the clemency process in Arkansas because of the prior candidates that were afforded this gesture of mercy and re-offended. This was decades ago, under different administrations. Our campaign and application are the 2025 template for the criteria of suitability for commutation.
On this site readers will be able to consider these factors when discerning if the interests of justice warrant a time commutation and parole:
Jerry's age at the time of the offense;
The history and characteristics of Jerry;
Whether Jerry has substantially complied with the rules of the institution to which Jerry has been confined, and whether Jerry has completed any educational, vocational, or other programs, where available;
Any report or recommendations received from the Prosecuting Attorney's office;
Whether Jerry has demonstrated maturity, rehabilitation, and a fitness to reenter society sufficient to justify commutation and parole;
Any statement or letter(s) provided orally or in writing by a victim of the offense or by a family member of the victim if the victim is deceased;
The physical, mental, or psychiatric examination of Jerry conducted by licensed health care professionals;
Jerry's family and community circumstances at the time of the offense, including history of abuse, trauma;
The extent of Jerry's role in the offense and whether and to what extent another person was involved in the offense;
The diminished culpability of Jerry who was under age (25) as compared of older adults, and the hallmark features of youth, including immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risk and consequences and Jerry's personal circumstances that support aging out of crime;
The attitudes and opinions of the community in which the crime occurred, including those of law enforcement officials;
The degree of remorse or empathy for victims and attitude of Jerry forward his prior conduct;
Jerry's employment plans, occupational skills, and job potential;
The adequacy of Jerry's parole plan and the availability of resources to assist him;
Any mitigating factors, such as evidence of strong provocation by the victim;
The type of residence, neighborhood, and community in which Jerry intends to live and work;
The disciplinary record of Jerry during his incarceration;
Jerry's plans for the future, including whether he has made realistic plans for release or has developed marketable skills that can be put to use upon release;
Whether the release of Jerry on parole is compatible with the welfare of society;
Jerry's ability and readiness to assume obligations and undertake responsibilities.
Sign Jerry’s Online Petition
Please join us in this crucial advocacy effort by signing and sharing Jerry Herron’s petition on Change.org. Your support can make a significant difference in Jerry's life and help promote a more just and humane criminal justice system in Arkansas and beyond. Together, we can work towards a future where second chances are possible, and justice is truly served.
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