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NAMI NC Clemency Letter to Governor Easley November 13, 2006
Governor Michael Easley Dear Governor Easley, On behalf of NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) North Carolina and its members across the state, I urge you to grant clemency to Mr. Guy T. LeGrande, who is scheduled for execution on December 1, 2006. We believe that clemency is the right thing to do in this situation for moral and procedural reasons. In 1999 the national expert who evaluated Mr. LeGrande concluded that he suffers from psychosis, making it impossible for him to participate in a meaningful way in the defense of his life. He is an individual who has a severe mental illness, and this illness impacted his actions that brought him to the place he is today. Our understanding is that he has never received services for his illness, not before the crime was committed, nor since his time in prison. While he has repeatedly turned down any attempts for legal counsel to help him, we believe that his decision stems from his delusional disorder, and his paranoia, not from a true understanding of the consequences. He has also declined any treatment while in prison, yet we are concerned that he is not competent to make that decision. We wish that the judge involved, when observing his obvious illness, had moved to make a stop to the trial at that point in time, overriding the objections of Mr. LeGrande. Our parent organization, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has adopted a position against the death penalty for those with severe and persistent mental illness. The American Bar Association has adopted a similar ban. The position of NAMI is: “NAMI believes that persons who have committed offenses due to states of mind or behavior caused by a brain disorder require treatment, not punishment. NAMI believes that a prison or jail is never an optimal therapeutic setting. NAMI believes that mental health systems have an obligation to develop and implement systems of appropriate care for individuals whose untreated brain disorders may cause them to engage in inappropriate or criminal behaviors.” Certainly, a tragedy has occurred in Stanly County with the commission of the crime that led to Mr. LeGrand’s imprisonment. We are deeply sorry for the family of the victim, and also for Mr. LeGrand’s family. Again, we are writing to request that you exercise your authority to grant clemency in this very unusual and unfortunate situation. Mental health issues are currently in the headlines on nearly a day-to-day basis, locally, statewide, and nationally. It is the right time to take a compassionate stand for acknowledging that mental illness is real, and is a disease that must be treated. Thank you for your consideration of this very difficult situation. Sincerely, Debra G. Dihoff Executive Director NAMI/NC Cc: Ken Rose, Thomas, Fergusson & Mullins LLP |