Life without parole for stealing a car radio. Roderick Godbolt unable to appeal due to lack of defen
Godbolt had been fixing and reselling radios and claimed that he had permission from the car owner’s to take his car radio for repair and says he mistakenly took the radio from the wrong car. He testified that he later paid $100 restitution to the owner of the radio.
Godbolt was convicted of simple burglary and was initially sentenced to six years in prison, but was resentenced to LWOP as a habitual offender.
The trial court never informed him of a one-year deadline to file a post-conviction appeal, and his applications for post-conviction relief were denied as too late. His subsequent habeas corpus petition was also denied because of a one-year deadline.
Read full story at ACLU Special Report. A Living Death: Life Without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses.
Many of the long serving inmates have no one left to support them. You can help by sharing their stories and asking others to do the same. Sign up to become an advocate for an inmate.
As voters, citizens, taxpayers and bystanders, we as a society have inhumanely punished thousands of nonviolent people. Currently Washington DC and 30 states have compensation statutes for wrongfully convicted inmates. Congress’ recommended amount is $63,000 for each year served. On the other hand, overly sentenced victims who in many cases have suffered equally or worse typically receive $20 and a bus ticket if they are fortunate enough to ever be released.
Select the link below to donate directly to Godbolt to help him with legal and other expenses. Most of these inhumanely sentenced inmates don't remember the last time they were able to buy personal items or snacks from the commissary. No donation is too small. JPAY is used for state inmates and Western Union for federal.
No Harsh Justice inmate has ever been convicted of a violent crime.
Donate to Godbolt's Legal Fund (Select Louisiana, Inmate ID=328653)
Note: 100% of your donation goes directly to the inmate's prison account.