Virginia Conditional Pardons
Lawrence served 20 years on a 3 life plus 23 years sentenced. Karen Morrison filed a supplemental to Mr. Stephens’ original pardon petition in 2020. He was granted a conditional pardon on 12.17.2021.
Notable Support: Sarah Stephens, Mary Beth Howerton, and Senator Dave Marsden.
Lawrence Jacob Stephens was only 18 years old when he was arrested and later convicted in a home invasion robbery in York County back in 2001. The alleged mastermind behind the robbery, who is white, got a 10-year sentence, a co-defendant got 35 years, but Stephens got a staggering 1,823 years.
• Lawrence Stephens recommended sentencing guidelines called for a 13 years’ imprisonment.
• Lawrence Stephens was a youthful offender. Congress recognized that youthful offenders under 21 should not be sentenced to life in prison.
• Lawrence is currently taking classes to form a nonprofit organization to assist returning citizens with dealing with trauma from incarceration.
“There’s a lot of work to be done as far as criminal justice reform. Mass incarceration of young Black men and women in this country is a real issue. I’m on a mission to fight for freedom. I’m here, I’m out here, I’m fighting for my brothers and my sisters who need this opportunity like I have. There’s some magic in all the mess that we go through. Patience, perseverance, hard work and strength,” Lawrence Jacob Stephens