Ronald McKeithen

In 1984, Ronald McKeithen was convicted of first-degree robbery for a convenience store hold-up in Birmingham.  There were no physical injuries or shots fired, but several hundred dollars was taken. The judge had no choice but to sentence Ronald to spend the rest of his life in prison; life without parole was mandatory under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act (HFOA) because Ronald had three nonviolent property crimes in his past, two stemming from a single incident.

The State of Alabama gave up on Ronald McKeithen, but he did not give up on himself. He earned a GED, then tutored others. He became a licensed barber, then cut hair to support himself in prison. He became an artist, a poet, led book clubs and a debate program. Altogether, he completed more than 110 classes and programs ranging from drug treatment to commercial foods to Vipassana meditation. Professors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and others who volunteered at Donaldson Correctional Facility realized Ronald had gifts that needed to be shared beyond prison walls. Journalist Beth Shelburne highlighted his case as an example of the glaring injustices created by the HFOA.

Ultimately, the victims in his case and Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr supported his petition for release. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Shanta Owens granted the petition. On December 16, 2020, Ronald emerged from Donaldson Correctional Facility to the welcoming embrace of a community dedicated to ensuring this remarkable man reaches his potential after 37 years of incarceration. Now 58, he dreams of attending UAB, of creating a greeting card business with his artwork, and of mentoring young people struggling with the same issues he struggled with so long ago.