Utah Board of Pardons improves communication with victims through letter named after teen killed by drunk driver

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah Board of Pardons and Corrections has created a new way to improve communications with victims and their families: a letter used for the initial contact with victims, named after a 13-year-old boy who was killed by a drunk driver in 2022.

According to a news release from the Board, “The Eli Mitchell Letter” is the first point of contact between victims of crime and the Board. It’s named after Eli Mitchell, a 13-year-old killed by a drunk driver in West Jordan in 2022.

“The new name is intended to humanize this process and to symbolize the Board’s unwavering commitment to a victim-centered approach,” the Board wrote in the news release. It also recognizes Eli’s family’s advocacy for victims’ rights.

ABC4 spoke with Eli’s grandfather Glendon Mitchell, who said that after a conviction, victims and their families are left with very little communication. Eventually, you’ll be notified about a hearing, but until then, “you feel like you’ve fallen off into a deep dark hole,” he said.

That’s why they began working with the Board to try to build a process to send notifications to victims, to give them information about how this process works and how victims can communicate with the board.

That months-long process led to the letter, which Glendon said that the Board decided to name after Eli.

“We are just so happy that other victims now can choose to read the letter or not,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to know that other people may not have to experience that unintended communication gap that we did and Eli’s parents did.”

“Victim notification is a priority for the Board, and we have been working to improve that process for years,” Board Chair Blake Hills said. “By naming this letter after Eli, we create a lasting legacy that honors a life taken too soon and reflects our commitment to ensuring victims are heard, respected, and informed.”

Glendon added that it’s fitting in a way, because Eli would reach out to kids who were bullied or weren’t very popular. “He was really drawn to helping them get out of a tough situation,” he said, and he explained that the family’s interest in the letter was to help other victims.

“I think this is a huge win for victims, and I am really thrilled they chose to recognize my grandson,” Glendon said.

This is one part of a broader effort from the Board to improve its services for crime victims and their families. The Board also launched the first phase of a tool designed to improve notification services earlier this year, called MyVoice.