25 signatures reached
To: Conviction Review-Unit, Governor Sherrill, Samuel Plumeri, Lenny Ward
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied: Bring Rodney Dutch Home After 28 Years
My name is Ranee Dutch, and I am the wife of Rodney Dutch.
Rodney has served over 28 years in prison for a robbery conviction. He did not take a life, yet he continues to lose his own—day by day, year after year.
Despite this, he was recently denied parole and given a 4-year Future Eligibility Term (FET).
Under New Jersey Parole Act of 1979, parole is supposed to be granted unless there is a substantial likelihood that the individual will commit another offense if released.
So we ask:
* Where is that evidence in Rodney’s case?
* After nearly three decades of incarceration,
* Rodney has: Completed all required and recommended rehabilitative programs
* Maintained institutional behavior that reflects growth and accountability
*Demonstrated a sustained commitment to personal change built a strong, stable release plan with family support there is no reasonable basis to conclude that he presents a substantial risk to public safety.
Instead, what we are seeing is a system that continues to punish beyond the point of rehabilitation—contrary to both the spirit and intent of the law.
Rodney is not defined by his past—he is defined by the man he has worked to become.
He is:
* A devoted husband who has maintained our bond through decades of separation
* A father who has missed irreplaceable milestones but never stopped loving and guiding his child;
* A grandfather who has yet to experience the simple joy of being present;
* A son with an aging mother who deserves to see her child come home
28 years is not a short sentence. It is a lifetime of missed moments, growth, and reflection.
The additional 4-year denial is not justice—it is excessive and unnecessary.
The continued incarceration of a rehabilitated individual:
* Does not enhance public safety
* Does not serve justice
* Does not reflect fairness or proportionality
We respectfully call on the New Jersey State Parole Board and all other authorities to:
Reconsider Rodney Dutch’s parole denial
Reevaluate the 4-year Future Eligibility Term
Apply the law as written—with fairness, objectivity, and integrity
Recognize that rehabilitation has already been achieved
When rehabilitation is ignored, the system fails the very purpose it was created to serve.
Rodney has done the work. He has served the time.
Now he deserves the chance to come home.
Keeping a rehabilitated man incarcerated after 28 years is not justice—it is excess.
Rodney has served over 28 years in prison for a robbery conviction. He did not take a life, yet he continues to lose his own—day by day, year after year.
Despite this, he was recently denied parole and given a 4-year Future Eligibility Term (FET).
Under New Jersey Parole Act of 1979, parole is supposed to be granted unless there is a substantial likelihood that the individual will commit another offense if released.
So we ask:
* Where is that evidence in Rodney’s case?
* After nearly three decades of incarceration,
* Rodney has: Completed all required and recommended rehabilitative programs
* Maintained institutional behavior that reflects growth and accountability
*Demonstrated a sustained commitment to personal change built a strong, stable release plan with family support there is no reasonable basis to conclude that he presents a substantial risk to public safety.
Instead, what we are seeing is a system that continues to punish beyond the point of rehabilitation—contrary to both the spirit and intent of the law.
Rodney is not defined by his past—he is defined by the man he has worked to become.
He is:
* A devoted husband who has maintained our bond through decades of separation
* A father who has missed irreplaceable milestones but never stopped loving and guiding his child;
* A grandfather who has yet to experience the simple joy of being present;
* A son with an aging mother who deserves to see her child come home
28 years is not a short sentence. It is a lifetime of missed moments, growth, and reflection.
The additional 4-year denial is not justice—it is excessive and unnecessary.
The continued incarceration of a rehabilitated individual:
* Does not enhance public safety
* Does not serve justice
* Does not reflect fairness or proportionality
We respectfully call on the New Jersey State Parole Board and all other authorities to:
Reconsider Rodney Dutch’s parole denial
Reevaluate the 4-year Future Eligibility Term
Apply the law as written—with fairness, objectivity, and integrity
Recognize that rehabilitation has already been achieved
When rehabilitation is ignored, the system fails the very purpose it was created to serve.
Rodney has done the work. He has served the time.
Now he deserves the chance to come home.
Keeping a rehabilitated man incarcerated after 28 years is not justice—it is excess.
Why is this important?
Rodney Dutch has served over 28 years in prison for a robbery—yet he was recently denied parole and given four more years, despite doing everything required to rehabilitate himself.
This campaign is about more than one man—it’s about fairness, accountability, and a justice system that honors rehabilitation. Under the New Jersey Parole Act of 1979, individuals are supposed to be granted parole unless there is clear evidence they pose a risk. When that standard is not applied fairly, it affects everyone.
By joining this campaign, you are:
*Standing up against excessive sentencing
*Supporting second chances and true rehabilitation giving a voice to families impacted by long-term incarceration
*Helping hold the New Jersey State Parole Board accountable to the law.
Your signature is more than support—it’s a statement that justice should be fair, consistent, and humane.
Together, we can push for the second chance Rodney has earned.
This campaign is about more than one man—it’s about fairness, accountability, and a justice system that honors rehabilitation. Under the New Jersey Parole Act of 1979, individuals are supposed to be granted parole unless there is clear evidence they pose a risk. When that standard is not applied fairly, it affects everyone.
By joining this campaign, you are:
*Standing up against excessive sentencing
*Supporting second chances and true rehabilitation giving a voice to families impacted by long-term incarceration
*Helping hold the New Jersey State Parole Board accountable to the law.
Your signature is more than support—it’s a statement that justice should be fair, consistent, and humane.
Together, we can push for the second chance Rodney has earned.