We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Florida Commission on Offender Review, the Florida Department of Corrections, and relevant governing authorities to immediately review and act on the urgent and inhumane circumstances surrounding the incarceration of Mr. Clifford Hopkins, a 66-year-old veteran currently housed at the Florida Reception Center in Orlando, listed under pending review status.

Mr. Hopkins is a U.S. Military Veteran, a father, grandfather, and lifelong family man who has already served over 23 years in the Florida prison system for offenses dating back to 1993. In 2023, he was arrested for petit theft, a case that was later dismissed (nolle prosequi) due to lack of evidence and his significant medical vulnerabilities. This case prior to the dismissal resulted in him briefly being arrested for a parole violation. At the time, Mr. Hopkins was released under medical supervision due to a recent surgery for a heart defibrillator implant and a dual diagnosis of colon cancer (undergoing both chemotherapy and radiation) and a history of prostate cancer (with a prostatectomy already completed).

Despite the dismissal of his charges and active medical conditions, the State of Florida reopened his case two years later, requiring him to turn himself in, bond out again, and fight for his freedom, while his body continues to deteriorate. Exhausted, financially burdened, and physically declining, Mr. Hopkins pled no contest just to stop the constant stress he was already feeling due to treatment and legal appearances. This triggered a retake warrant, which resulted in his being detained in county jail since May 6, 2025, where he was held without proper medical care, without a parole preliminary hearing, and without explanation or process.

Current Status and Medical Neglect

Since being transferred to the Florida Reception Center on July 15, 2025, Clifford Hopkins continues to suffer from:

• Denial of medically necessary treatment tincluding
• Prohibition from receiving his heart monitor, with threats of the device being discarded
• Lack of cancer care follow-up or nutrition consistent with his dietary needs
• Unaddressed fainting spells and critical cardiac concerns
• No confirmed date for parole review, despite being marked as “pending”
• Arrested under an outdated alias used over two decades ago—recently corrected

Legal and Ethical Concerns

• Parole Officer and Supervisor both recommended reinstatement
• Parole Commission has failed to act on those recommendations
• Violates his right to due process
• Violation of medical rights under ADA and Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment)
• No new convictions; case was nolle prosequi in original review
• Deserves credit for time served in county custody
• Florida's old sentencing law (65% threshold) applies, making him eligible for parole while he cares for his medical needs

Call to Action

Clifford Hopkins is a human being first. He is not a threat to society, and his continued incarceration only worsens his health and denies him basic dignity. The Florida Department of Corrections has consistently failed to accommodate his life-threatening medical conditions, and jail is not equipped to manage his complex care needs.

We demand that Mr. Hopkins be:

1. Immediately released and reinstated on parole under medical grounds
2. Placed under supervised house arrest with full access to medical care
3. Credited for all time served during the ongoing legal confusion
4. Afforded due process, including a hearing before the Parole Board
5. Protected from further institutional delays that could endanger his life

Clifford Hopkins deserves compassion, justice, and access to care—not continued punishment for a charge that was dismissed and a system that failed to provide him with clarity or treatment. We urge your immediate attention before it is too late.