In January 1988, Delores Kapuscinski was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for killing her abusive husband. Delores had suffered years of emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband and learned that her husband was also sexually abusing their two children. She planned to take her own life, but in fear for her children, turned the gun on her abuser. At the time of her trial, Battered Woman Syndrome was not available to support self-defense. It was raised at trial as part of a temporary insanity defense; however, due to the emergent nature of the theory and the lack of public recognition, understanding, and public support of battered women and their experiences, it was simply ignored, lost in the prosecutor's rant as he trotted out stereotypical myths and accusations that branded Delores Kapuscinski a "scheming murderer" who lied and planned the killing and tried to cover it up, while trivializing the severe sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse she had endured for 17 years.
Delores has now served 21 years in prison. Her record is exemplary. She has earned a college degree while incarcerated and serves as a paralegal, assisting other inmates with their appeals and habeas corpus petitions. She has taken advantage of every opportunity educational opportunity offered by the prison and has also done volunteer work. Delores is not a threat at this point and has served more than enough time in prison for an act that was brought on by severe emotional trauma due to the abuse she suffered. We ask that Governor Granholm commute Delores Kapuscinski's sentence and allow her to go free.
In January 1988, Delores Kapuscinski was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for killing her abusive husband. Delores had suffered years of emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband and learned that her husband was also sexually abusing their two children. She planned to take her own life, but in fear for her children, turned the gun on her abuser. At the time of her trial, Battered Woman Syndrome was not available to support self-defense. It was raised at trial as part of a temporary insanity defense; however, due to the emergent nature of the theory and the lack of public recognition, understanding, and public support of battered women and their experiences, it was simply ignored, lost in the prosecutor's rant as he trotted out stereotypical myths and accusations that branded Delores Kapuscinski a "scheming murderer" who lied and planned the killing and tried to cover it up, while trivializing the severe sexual, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse she had endured for 17 years.
Delores has now served 21 years in prison. Her record is exemplary. She has earned a college degree while incarcerated and serves as a paralegal, assisting other inmates with their appeals and habeas corpus petitions. She has taken advantage of every opportunity educational opportunity offered by the prison and has also done volunteer work. Delores is not a threat at this point and has served more than enough time in prison for an act that was brought on by severe emotional trauma due to the abuse she suffered. We ask that Governor Granholm commute Delores Kapuscinski's sentence and allow her to go free.
