| Deborah Peagler

Connie Keel is free!

Governor approves her release on parole

It is with great joy that we announce that another domestic violence survivor has been released on parole from state prison!

Connie Keel was released Wednesday, April 1^st, 2009, after serving nearly 30 years at the California Institution for Women on a 25-to-life sentence for a murder her abusive husband committed.

Connie’s release is the result of a collective effort of thousands of concerned community members who supported her freedom over the course of many, many years. Tremendous thanks to all of you who took the time to write, call, and fax the Governor urging him to release Ms. Keel! Together, we make a difference!

Free Battered Women especially would like to express our tremendous gratitude and deep appreciation to our colleagues at the USC’s Post-Conviction Justice Project. Law Student Adam Reich’s tireless and vigorous advocacy on behalf of Ms. Keel has been truly inspiring.

Free Battered Women and the Habeas Project wish Connie much joy, strength, and courage as she begins the next stage of her journey.

Read more about Connie's fight for freedom:

Paroled woman has message for victims of abuse (San Francisco Chronicle)

Murderer's abused wife to be freed from prison (San Francisco Chronicle)