Governor of Missouri Pardons at a Rate Unseen Since the WWII Era

At 16, following a heartbreaking breakup, Kenny Batson took out his frustration by damaging cars at a sales lot, leading to juvenile detention. This incident marked the beginning of a troubled path.

As years passed, Batson engaged in theft, including stealing cigarettes, alcohol, and cars for reckless driving, interspersed with periods in prison and rehabilitation programs. At 20, he severely assaulted a man, ceasing only when his friends intervened.

Now 50 and a Christian pastor, Batson has transformed his life and received a pardon for his past offenses.

Governor Mike Parson, who pardoned Batson, is no stranger to transformation himself.

Previously a rural sheriff for twelve years, Parson was known for enforcing the law. As governor, he has shifted to a role of compassion, pardoning over 600 individuals in three years, the highest number by a Missouri governor since the 1940s.

Parson, in an interview with The Big Big News, expressed his continued belief in law and order but recognized that criminal behavior doesn’t define a person for life. He emphasized the importance of considering individual cases.

Parson’s actions in Missouri, a state with strong Republican leanings, align with a national trend of reevaluating citizens’ rights post-incarceration. This movement includes efforts by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, who set a state record for pardons.

In Minnesota, legislative changes now allow pardons without a unanimous vote by a three-member board, including the governor, attorney general, and chief justice, though the governor’s vote is still required.

At the federal level, President Joe Biden pardoned thousands for marijuana possession last year and urged governors to follow suit.

This trend represents a shift from the strict crime policies of the late 20th century, returning to a time when pardons and commutations were more frequent.

States vary in their clemency processes, with commutations reducing sentence lengths and pardons acting as official forgiveness, restoring rights and aiding in employment opportunities.

For Batson, his pardon, arriving in a manilla envelope years after his wife’s submission of recommendation letters, symbolized a regained sense of worth by removing the felon label.

In Missouri, the Board of Probation and Parole screens clemency requests, making confidential recommendations to the governor, who has no deadline for decisions.

Upon taking office in 2018, Parson inherited nearly 3,700 clemency applications from his predecessor, including cases dating back to Governor Jay Nixon’s tenure (2009-2017). Parson’s team began addressing this backlog in December 2020, aiming to review approximately 100 cases monthly, considering factors like employment, community involvement, and remorse.

To date, Parson has denied around 2,400 requests, granting 613 pardons and 20 commutations, surpassing Republican Governor Forrest Donnell’s record from 1941-1945.

In contrast, Wisconsin Governor Evers has granted 1,111 pardons since 2019, exceeding the previous record set by Republican Governor Julius Heil (1939-1943).

Parson’s approach has led to Missouri being recognized as one of 16 states with regular pardon grants. According to Margaret Love, executive director of the Collateral Consequences Resource Center, a predictable pardoning schedule can foster public trust and transparency.

Parson generally announces only the names of those granted clemency, with details available through open-records requests. An analysis showed that 42% of those pardoned were convicted of drug crimes, 28% of theft, and 14% of burglary.

Among those pardoned were Mark and Patricia McCloskey, known for brandishing weapons at protestors, and Pete Underdal and Dave Galloway, both from Parson’s former jurisdiction in Polk County. Parson emphasized that personal connections did not influence these decisions.

Galloway, who applied for clemency in 2010 and was granted in 2022, expressed gratitude for Parson’s recognition of his rehabilitation.

This wave of pardons reflects a broader shift in criminal justice perspectives, balancing law enforcement with opportunities for redemption and societal reintegration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Missouri Governor Pardons

More about Missouri Governor Pardons

• Missouri Governor’s Pardon Record
• National Criminal Justice Reform Trends
• Kenny Batson’s Transformation Story
• Understanding Clemency and Pardons
• Governor Parson’s Clemency Policy
• Rehabilitation and the Criminal Justice System
• Historical Context of Pardons in the U.S.