Unjust Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentence
Adam Bentley Clausen is serving 213 years in federal prison for robbery.
Adam was sentenced under Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Guidelines.
He has lost his freedom.
Forever.
My name is Adam Bentley Clausen. I am currently serving a 213 year sentence without parole for robbery. Yes, robbery.
Never could I have imagined myself, sitting here in a prison cell, contemplating a "life" sentence. I'm not a murderer, a rapist, nor an international terrorist, yet I have been sentenced as one all the same. Neither am I a "three strikes offender" or a "career criminal" that qualified for an extended term as habitual offender. There was no one killed, nor even seriously injured, during the commission of my crimes despite what this draconian term undoubtedly implies. (See The Math for further explanation.)
Since December 2000, I've been confined and paying for my crimes in Federal Prison. During that time I've tried to take responsibility for my actions and make amends whenever possible. Admittedly the mistakes that I made were serious and warrant a harsh penalty. However, I never committed any horrible act or unforgivable offense that would justify spending the remainder of my life in prison. I was barely 24 years old when I committed these crimes and hardly considered a lost cause beyond redemption.
By the close of 2005 my appeals had all been either "Affirmed" or "Denied" and became "Final Judgements." The Federal Courts then closed their doors to me because, contrary to a popular belief, legal appeals cannot be repeatedly submitted and caused to carry on indefinitely...at least not since former President Bill Clinton passed the AEDPA (Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996). As a result, my options for any sort of relief are now extremely limited, but that doesn't mean I'm not hopeful about the future.
Somehow you made your way to this page and I'm extremely grateful for your audience. Please take some time to look around and learn more about me while you're here.
Never could I have imagined myself, sitting here in a prison cell, contemplating a "life" sentence. I'm not a murderer, a rapist, nor an international terrorist, yet I have been sentenced as one all the same. Neither am I a "three strikes offender" or a "career criminal" that qualified for an extended term as habitual offender. There was no one killed, nor even seriously injured, during the commission of my crimes despite what this draconian term undoubtedly implies. (See The Math for further explanation.)
Since December 2000, I've been confined and paying for my crimes in Federal Prison. During that time I've tried to take responsibility for my actions and make amends whenever possible. Admittedly the mistakes that I made were serious and warrant a harsh penalty. However, I never committed any horrible act or unforgivable offense that would justify spending the remainder of my life in prison. I was barely 24 years old when I committed these crimes and hardly considered a lost cause beyond redemption.
By the close of 2005 my appeals had all been either "Affirmed" or "Denied" and became "Final Judgements." The Federal Courts then closed their doors to me because, contrary to a popular belief, legal appeals cannot be repeatedly submitted and caused to carry on indefinitely...at least not since former President Bill Clinton passed the AEDPA (Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996). As a result, my options for any sort of relief are now extremely limited, but that doesn't mean I'm not hopeful about the future.
Somehow you made your way to this page and I'm extremely grateful for your audience. Please take some time to look around and learn more about me while you're here.
Hopefully before you leave you'll find yourself compelled to join in this fight to help save my life. Your support can, and will, make a difference.
My Sincere Thanks To All Of You,
Adam B. Clausen
My Sincere Thanks To All Of You,
Adam B. Clausen
