On December 16, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will announce the commutation of Dawn Jackson’s 30-year prison sentence. Jackson, aged 53, was convicted for the fatal stabbing of her step-grandfather, Robert McBride, in 1999, after enduring years of sexual abuse.
Governor Murphy acknowledges the significant role Kim Kardashian played in advocating for Jackson’s release, stating, "Kim deserves enormous credit on this one." Jackson has spent the last 25 years incarcerated at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon, New Jersey. Her journey toward freedom began when she initially applied for clemency in 2018.
Kardashian, who learned about Jackson’s situation in 2019 when she received a letter outlining the abuse Jackson suffered, expressed deep compassion for her. "I could feel her pain through the letters," she said, noting that Jackson was advised by her public defender to plead guilty instead of going to trial.
Kardashian then reached out to two lawyers, Erin Haney and Jessica Jackson, from the REFORM Alliance, a group focused on criminal justice reform. They felt compelled to help Jackson, recognizing the severe trauma she faced throughout her life.
As Jackson and Kardashian corresponded through letters and phone calls, their bond grew stronger. Kardashian publicly supported Jackson’s cause on social media and featured her story in her series, Kim Kardashian: The Justice Project, in 2020. The experience has been transformative for Kardashian, who is pursuing a law degree and is dedicated to addressing issues of criminal justice.
Governor Murphy has also expressed his empathy for Jackson, noting that she has endured significant trauma throughout her life. He launched the Clemency Initiative earlier in June, aiming to expedite reviews for cases like Jackson’s, where survivors of domestic violence seek relief.
Over the years, Jackson’s harsh sentence received scrutiny, especially as her history of abuse was never presented during her trial. "The sentence was too harsh," Murphy remarked, highlighting Jackson’s accountability and her positive behavior while incarcerated.
Kardashian, initially hesitant to engage in violent crime cases, found her perspective changed after meeting incarcerated individuals and hearing their stories. "It’s about understanding what they have been through," she shared.
Alongside her advocacy work, Kardashian believes in providing people a second chance. Jackson, a mother of eleven who has achieved her high school diploma, is now pursuing a degree in criminal justice. Soon, she will move in with one of her daughters.
Both Governor Murphy and Kardashian look forward to meeting Jackson in the near future. Meanwhile, Kardashian is preparing to take her final bar exam, continuing her commitment to justice reform.
