Jeff Mizanskey Archives

Jeff Mizanskey is Free

September 1, 2015September 1, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

jefffree — Jeff Mizanksey (right), a free man for the first time in 21 years, with his attorney Dan Viets.

After 21 years in prison serving a life sentence without parole for cannabis, Jeff Mizanskey, 61, is now officially a free man.

In 1993, Jeff was charged with thirs third cannabis-related charge, and was sentenced to life without parole as part of the state’s “prior and persistent drug offender”, law which has since been repealed (though the repeal doesn’t take effect until 2017).

In May, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon commuted Jeff sentence after a massive public education campaign by activists, including a petition being submitted to him with over 400,000 signatures – including over 100 lawmakers – asking for Jeff’s freedom.

Missouri Man Serving Life in Prison for Cannabis to be Set Free Tomorrow

August 31, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Jeff Mizanskey, a Missouri man who’s been in prison for over 20 years serving life without parole for a cannabis charge, will be set free tomorrow, September 1st.

Jeff, who was arrested in 1993 on his third non-violent cannabis-related charge, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole as part of the state’s three-strike law, had his sentence commuted by Governor Jay Nixon in May, which led to a parole hearing on August 6th. Officials quickly decided to grant Mizanskey parole after being imprisoned for 21 years. Jeff, who’s 61-years old, will officially walk free from Jefferson City Correctional Center between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Missouri: Jeff Mizanskey’s Going Home on September 1st

August 21, 2015August 21, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Jeff Mizanskey, a 61-year old Missouri man who’s been serving life in prison without parole for cannabis, will be set free on September 1st after more than 20 years in prison.

Jeff, who was arrested in 1993 on his third non-violent cannabis-related charge, had his sentence commuted by Governor Jay Nixon in May. This gave him the ability to have a parole hearing, which he did on August 6th. Although officials expected the decision to take weeks, it took only four days for the parole board to decide to grant Mizanskey parole. According to Dan Viets, Mizanskey’s attorney, he’ll be officially set free on September 1st, 21 years after initially being imprisoned.

Missouri Man Serving Life in Prison for Cannabis Granted Parole

August 11, 2015August 10, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Jeff Mizanskey, a 61-year old Missouri man who has been in prison for over 20 years without parole over a cannabis-related charge, has been granted parole, and will be released from prison within a matter of days.

In May, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon commuted Mizanskey’s sentence, giving him the possibility of parole. This led to a parole hearing on August 6th. Although officials stated that a decision would take six to eight weeks, it only took four days.

Missouri Governor Commutes Sentence of Man Serving Life in Prison for Cannabis

May 23, 2015May 22, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Just days after saying he would consider doing so this summer, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has commuted the sentence of Jeff Mizanskey, a 61-year old man who has been in prison for over 20 years without parole over a cannabis-related charge. This will make him immediately eligible for parole.

“It’s amazing,” says Chris Mizanskey, Jeff’s son. “To be able to talk to him, to be able to sit here and have a conversation with him. To have my son sit on his lap, for him to be a part of his grandkid’s life, our lives, my whole family. I mean really words can’t even describe it.”

Missouri Governor to Consider Freeing Man Serving Life in Prison for Cannabis This Summer

May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Jeff Mizanskey, a 61-year old Missouri man who has been in prison for over 20 years without parole over a cannabis-related charge, could be freed as soon as “relatively early summer”, according to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.

Jeff was arrested in 1993 on his third nonviolent, cannabis-related charge. As part of the state’s controversial three-strike law, Jeff was sentenced to life in prison, without parole, despite having no history of violence and no criminal record other than the three cannabis charges.

Bill to Free Inmates Serving Life in Prison for Cannabis Passes House Committee in Missouri

March 11, 2015March 11, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

A bill that would free those serving life in prison for cannabis in Missouri has passed the state’s House Corrections Committee.

The committee approved an amendment adding an emergency clause to the measure, meaning it would take effect immediately upon passage.

Representative Shane Roden was the sole “No” vote on the 12-person committee.

Missouri Bill to Free those Serving Life in Prison for Cannabis Takes Leap Forward

February 26, 2015February 26, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

By Aaron Malin, Show-Me Cannabis

A bill that would require the release of any offender serving life without parole for marijuana offenses has moved forward in the Missouri legislature. House Bill 978, introduced by Representative Shamed Dogan, was assigned this week to the House Corrections Committee, and a hearing was immediately scheduled for next Wednesday, March 4, at 8:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 5. The bill would require the release of 61-year-old great-grandfather Jeff Mizanskey, who has been incarcerated for twenty-one years on a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Missouri Bill Introduced to Free those Serving Life in Prison for Cannabis

February 18, 2015February 18, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation to free those serving life in prison without parole for cannabis has been introduced in Missouri. House Bill 978 was introduced by Representative Shamed Dogan.

If approved into law, the measure would require “the Board of Probation and Parole to authorize the release of any offender who is incarcerated on August 28, 2015 and who is serving a life sentence without parole for marijuana offenses.”

This would effect the imprisonment of at least one man, Jeff Mizanskey, who we wrote about recently; he’s currently serving life without parole for a nonviolent cannabis-related charge, and has been in prison for over 20 years.