Richard “Lee” Chalk

*Lee was granted clemency in August 2021

Richard “Lee” Chalk, 62 years old, has served 32 years of a 50 years-to-life sentence that he received when he was 29 years old. He will be eligible for parole release in March of 2038, a few months before his 80th birthday.   

Mr. Chalk was convicted of two counts of felony murder. He was part of a burglary and robbery which took place on March 9, 1988, and which resulted in two tragic deaths. At no point did he enter the house where the robbery took place and at no point did he fire a weapon.  Still, he feels immense responsibility for the deaths that resulted from the botched burglary.  For over three decades, Mr. Chalk has expressed a profound sense of remorse for how his actions contributed to the loss of life.  

Mr. Chalk has spent the past 32 years working on himself and providing support for others. He has excelled in and facilitated a wide variety of rehabilitative programs. Obtaining his Legal Research Certificate early on, he has assisted other incarcerated individuals with their litigation. For nine years, he acted as a Sighted Guide for another incarcerated individual who is blind. Mr. Chalk has held leadership roles in his religious group, served as President of prison veterans organizations, and served for years as an elected Inmate Liaison Representative. Lastly, Mr. Chalk passionately gives back through cooking—he regularly cooks meals for more than 50 incarcerated men and their loved ones.  

Mr. Chalk comes from a tight-knit family and enjoys extensive emotional support. He has maintained close relationships with his two sisters, three nieces and nephews, seven grandnieces and grandnephews, and his cousin. Each of them is desperate to have him home. Mr. Chalk is a pillar of strength for his younger sister, Geannie, whose health is failing from lung cancer. More than anything, Mr. Chalk is eager to spend quality time with his sister before she dies.  

Today, Mr. Chalk continues to face serious medical risks himself. He has been diagnosed with Atrial-Fibrillation (“A-Fib”), which requires close heart monitoring. He suffers from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a condition which disrupts his breathing. He suffers from Type 2 Diabetes and high blood pressure. Most recently in December of 2020, he received emergency overnight treatment for a dangerous spike in his blood sugar—the latest of many medical complications which have left Mr. Chalk fighting for his life. Learn more about Lee.