To: Governor Jeb Bush of Florida and the Cabinet Board of Executive Clemency Administration



Citizens of Florida and Nationwide are requesting that field staff conduct intensive investigation into all factors of Rebecca Falcons sentencing in 1999 when Rebecca was a child of 15 years of age, with no prior offense or criminal record. We are asking that the staff be allowed to review and process a clemency request for Rebecca and that staff present their findings to the Commission in hopes that the Commission will make a recommendation for submission to the Board of Executive Clemency.

In April 1999 Rebecca was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life without possibility of parole. She now resides at Lowell Women's Prison. Under Florida's current law, the Judge had no choice but to give her the maximum sentence. Rebecca had never been in trouble before, and she had planned to go to college to be a psychologist. Now, she's in a hard-core women's prison. There are no opportunities for growth, so she just exists — nothing else. How is justice served by sending a 15-year-old girl to prison for the rest of her life? There are hardened criminals who don't receive such a harsh sentence.

Because of the laws currently in effect, no consideration was given to whether Rebecca would be amendable to Juvenile treatment and rehabilitation that she would have received in the Juvenile system. All that mattered is the nature of the crime. There were no psychologists appointed by the state to examine Rebecca and her history, no rehabilitation experts to evaluate her potential, and no judge to personally look over everything, in order to make a careful and informed decision. None of that mattered, and Rebecca didn't matter — only the nature of the crime mattered.

What happened that night would stay with Rebecca and haunt her for the rest of her life--whether she's in prison or out of prison. But there has to be a more humane form of justice than sending a 15-year-old girl, who had never been in trouble before, away to prison for the rest of her life, without any chance at parole. Rebecca has served many years, because as a child she did not have the insight needed when she witnessed the murder of cab driver, Richard Phillips. For what-ever part the jury felt Rebecca played in this horrible crime, the time she has served in adult prison, should be enough punishment for a child age 15 years at the time of the conviction.

Citizens who have signed this petition beg the State Clemency Board and Governor Jeb Bush to grant this young woman Clemency so she can have an opportunity to contribute to society and make a difference for other children by sharing her story of how easily a teen can place themselves at risk with a killer and then pay a lifetime price for being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Rebecca can work with Advocacy groups that will raise public awareness and educate children to the dangers of an association with a dangerous adult person and the consequences, which cost Rebecca her adolescent, and adult years while locked away in adult prison for life without parole. Rebecca can serve the country and Florida in a great and mighty way by being allowed to speak to other teens in middle and high schools, at Juvenile Conferences and much more, which can only happen if Rebecca is Granted Clemency.

Respectfully Submitted

The Signatories of the Citizens of the United States as submitted





http://www.JusticeforJuveniles.Org
Florida leads the Nation in sending children to Adult Courts.