User:John Cummings/Articles/Quintin Jones (prisoner)

Quintin Jones is an African American prisoner in Livingston, Texas who is due to be executed on 19th May 2021 for the 1999 killing of his great aunt Berthena Bryant. There has been widespread calls for Texas Governor Greg Abbott to commute his death sentence to a life sentence including by the victim's family. Several news organisations have highlighted racial boas in his sentencing. Jones has spent 21 years in solitary confinement, the United Nations classifies over 15 days of solitary confinement as torture.

Early Life
Jones experienced 'brutal conditions' during his childhood, experiencing neglect by his parents, sexual assault by his siblings and extreme poverty. His mother threatened him with a gun and he was forced at age 7 by his older siblings to have sex with his stepsister. He shot himself twice, once in the hand to placate gang members and later in the chest in a suicide attempt. He became addicted to drugs by his early teens.

Crime, trial and sentencing
In 1999 Jones killed his great aunt while high on heroin and cocaine. Jones admitted to the killing during the trial and showed remorse. The Bryant family gave evidence in the trial of Jones' mental illness and addiction. Jones was sentenced to death and has spent 21 years on death row with 23 hours a day in solitary confinement. The United Nations defines more than 15 days of solitary confinement as torture.

Legal challenges
Michael Mowla, Jones' attourney has since filed a filed a habeas corpus motion in Texas state court, arguing that prosecutors gave unscientific testimony during the the trial, violating Jones' rights. Texas state law only allows the death penalty on the argument of “future dangerousness”, Quinn has no record of violence in prison.

Racial bias in sentencing
Several news organisations have highlighted racial bias in his sentencing. They have compared him to Riky “Red” Roosa who was convicted of murdering two people and was given a life sentence with the possibility of parole. Quin, who is Black, was sentenced to death for one murder.

Clemency petition
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott has been petitioned to grant clemency to Jones by the victim's family, individuals (including a petition signed by 120,000 people) and organisations. Abbott has previously given clemency in 2019 to Thomas “Bart” Whitaker for the murder of this mother and brother after his father Kent Whitaker who was shot during the attack pleaded for clemency.


 * Mattie Long, the sister of the victim Berthena Bryant wrote in the clemency petition to Governor Abbott 'I have forgiven him, I love him very much... I am writing this to ask you to please spare Quintin’s life'.
 * Writer Suleika Jaouad who has been Jones's pen pal for ten years called for clemency, supported her through treatment for leukemia in her 20s which she was given a 30% chance of survival. She wrote a book about her friendship with Jones, 'Between Two Kingdoms'.
 * Benjamin Jones Quin’s twin brother stated in the clemency petition “Both of us have long forgiven Quin. Please don’t cause us to be victimized again through Quin’s execution.”
 * Death Penalty Information Center, has supported his clemency pointing out that a death penalty case costs an average of $2.3 million in Texas, equivalent to incarcerating someone for 40 years.
 * Over 120,000 people have signed a petition asking Governor Greg Abbott to grant Jones clemency.
 * Jones worked with the New York Times to ask for clemency from Governor Abbot stating 'I’m writing this letter to ask you if you could find it in your heart to grant me clemency, so I don’t get executed on 19 May. I got two weeks to live, starting today.'.