In Memoriam
Daniel Jones
- PausePlay Today: “I just wanted to create a better world.”
- PausePlay Childhood: “I was exposed to a lot of things a person at that age should not have been exposed to.”
- PausePlay Crime: “I was 16 years of age, and I pulled the trigger.”
- PausePlay Turning point: “I ultimately began to realize, 'It was me.... I'm the reason why this happened.'”
Danny, a lifelong resident of Michigan, was sentenced to life without parole for a crime he committed at age 16. While in prison, he worked hard to grow and mature, and he helped others do the same. When laws about children being sentenced to life without parole changed, he was able to achieve parole from prison. Once home, he worked relentlessly to make the world a better place by fighting for voting rights, working with youth in arts programs, and serving as a member of the National LWOP Leadership Council, among other things. In November 2022, he was killed when someone attempted to rob him. He had been out less than three years, but he became a beloved activist, making a lasting impact both within his community and across the nation. We will miss him forever.