Like thousands of other Missourians, Terrell Robinson’s parole was revoked without basic due process. The MacArthur Justice Center is challenging the opaque, discriminatory state parole revocation process that has ensnared Mr. Robinson and others like him.
Mr. Robinson has been incarcerated for 12 years and counting for parole conditions violations that are still unknown to him. He never received notification of what parole conditions he supposedly violated, was never able to view his violation reports or any evidence relied upon by the parole board, never went before the parole board, and was never apprised of his rights during the revocation process – including his right to counsel.
The violation reports Mr. Robinson was finally able to review – well into his reincarceration – were so incredibly confusing that he remains in the dark about why his parole was revoked. In total, Terrell has served 33 years of a 50-year sentence, meaning the Parole Board could keep him behind bars for another 17 years.
The MacArthur Justice Center has filed a habeas corpus petition on Mr. Robinson’s behalf to ask for his release. This filing comes at a time when the State of Missouri is fighting a federal class action lawsuit targeting the Missouri Parole Board’s revocation process. Despite the court acknowledging the parole revocation system was unconstitutional and ordering substantial changes, the state has filed an appeal to not only reverse the decision but dismiss the case in entirety. As a result, the district court put a stay on previously ordered reforms.