The Top 25 Women Deserving Presidential Clemency is a list of extraordinarily worthy women whose time in federal prison should end. These women are serving multi-decade and life without parole sentences for non-violent drug offenses. (video & petition link included)
CAN–DO is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit foundation that advocates [C]lemency for [A]ll [N]on-violent [D]rug [O]ffenders. These are the faces of the drug war. Behind every face is a human with a story. Overly punitive drug laws create negative consequences that trigger a chain reaction upon innocent family members, friends and our society. Most of these people have been locked up for decades. Until our drug laws change, the only relief these people have for mercy is clemency.
Beth had a wonderful life growing up as an only child in a loving middle class family. After she graduated, she went to work for her father as a dental technician. Eventually Beth got married, had a family and moved to Florida to live the all American dream. Everything was just that, until her husband divorced her and the bottom fell out. Eventually Beth sought help and was treated for clinical depression, but there was no remedy.
I am a very proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I was fortunate to meet most of the grandchildren while incarcerated. During my incarceration I lost my husband on Christmas Day 2013, plus three brothers and a sister. I was on permanent disability before I was incarcerated. After 15 years my health is deteriorating rapidly.
While I would like to say that my time in prison has served to make me a better person, I can’t because that would be dishonest. I was once a contributing member of society, with a growing family. I am now divorced from my husband and separated from my daughters who need me desperately. At least a 1000 different times my daughters have cried out to me too “just come home.”
Like so many women, Mandy had a productive life and was a responsible citizen until she experienced trauma in the form of domestic violence. Her self-medicating to avoid stress turned quickly into a raging addiction and eventually into a sentence.
I have 4 children, and 2 grandchildren with one on the way. My baby girl, who is now 23 years old, has autism and needs care around the clock. I have almost spent half my life in prison and I feel I’ve used those years productively.
I was arrested in 1996 and charged with conspiracy. I stood trial in 2000. I was found guilty of three conspiracy charges. It was a dry conspiracy developed by a reverse sting operation. The courts were allowed to charge “perceived” amounts at the time of my trial. I have been incarcerated for 18 years as a result of this conviction. I have been separated from my family for 20 years (2 yrs. at large and 18 yrs. in prison). I have watched our son grow from 3 into a young man of 23, through telephone calls and prison visiting rooms.
I have one child who has a Bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University. My sisters have done an amazing job of raising my son (for the last 15yrs). All my sisters suffer from health issues. I need to be there for them during their time of need. I thank God for blessing me with a loving family.
I took my case to trial, but when I took the stand in my own defense, I realized that I had put myself in a lose-lose situation. I still cannot believe that, in the United States of America, we sentence first-time non-violent offenders to life, and death, in prison.