Mental Retardation Group Pleads for Clemency for Mentally Disabled Man in Arkansas

Arkansas’ leading advocacy organization for people with mental retardation, Arc Arkansas, delivered a letter to Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Parole Board urging clemency for Frank Williams, Jr. because of his mental retardation. He is scheduled for execution on September 9 and the Arkansas Parole Board is holding a clemency hearing on his case on August 4. The letter notes that executing a mentally retarded person is unconstitutional based on both Arkansas’ 1993 statutory ban and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2002 ruling in Atkins v. Virginia.

Williams was held back in school three times before dropping out in the 10th grade. Arc Arkansas’ Chief Operating Officer, Cynthia Stone, wrote, “It would be a great injustice and a violation of our own state laws to execute Frank Williams, Jr., who is a person with lifelong mental retardation.” She added, “The Parole Board should recommend and Governor Beebe should grant clemency for Mr. Williams in order to prevent this terrible injustice.” The letter further describes the circumstances of his sentence as tragic compounded by bad timing and woefully inadequate representation.
(A. Davis, “Group urges clemency for death-row inmate,” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 31, 2008). See Mental Retardation and Clemency.