Former Troubled Teen Turned Pastor Pardoned By Governor
Kenny Batson’s life began to unravel after a romantic breakup at the age of 16. Distraught and seeking an outlet for his pain, Batson lashed out by stomping out the windshields of cars on a for-sale lot. This act landed him in juvenile detention, but little did he know it was only the beginning of his troubled journey.
Over the years, Batson fell into a pattern of criminal behavior, stealing cigarettes, booze, and cars, while bouncing in and out of prison and substance abuse treatment programs. His lowest point came at age 20, when he nearly beat a man to death.
However, fast forward to the present day, Batson’s life looks dramatically different. Now 50, he is a Christian pastor and a reformed man who has been pardoned for his past crimes by Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
Parson, a former rural sheriff, knows a thing or two about transformations. He has become the face of mercy by pardoning more than 600 people in the past three years, more than any Missouri governor since the 1940s.
While Parson believes in the importance of law and order and the need for criminals to be treated as such, he also recognizes that people are capable of changing. This shift in mentality is reflective of a broader national movement that seeks to restore citizens’ rights and reputations after they have served criminal sentences.
At the federal level, President Joe Biden last year pardoned thousands of people convicted of marijuana possession and encouraged governors to do the same. This represents a step back from the tough-on-crime politics of the late 20th century and a return to an earlier American era when pardons and commutations were much more common.
For Batson, the pardon not only obliterated the felon label but also helped restore his sense of self-worth.
To handle the large number of clemency requests, Parson’s staff began systematically tackling a backlog of nearly 3,700 applications. The types of crimes, the age of offenders, and the time that had passed were all taken into considering as Parson made his decisions. So far, he has denied about 2,400 clemency requests while granting 613 pardons and 20 commutations.
As a result of Parson’s actions, Missouri is now categorized by the Restoration of Rights Project as one of 16 states granting frequent or regular pardons. A predictable schedule, like Parson’s monthly announcements, can help dispel impressions that the process is corrupt.
Parson has also pardoned some individuals whose crimes were committed in his own community. He insists that his hometown connections played no role in their pardons, emphasizing instead the testimonials of others as the primary influence in his decisions.
Pardoning decisions are significant, not only for those directly affected but as an indicator of broader societal shifts towards rehabilitation and redemption.
For Batson, Galloway, and others, the pardons granted by Parson represent a recognition that rehabilitation is real— that people are capable of change, and that actions can speak louder than words.