The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls has written an OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA \u00a0urging him to switch to a broader plan of “amnesty.”<\/p>\n
December 13, 2016<\/p>\n
The Honorable Barack Obama
\nThe White House
\n1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
\nWashington D.C. 20500<\/p>\n
Dear Mr. President,<\/p>\n
We are advocates for prisoners seeking clemency. Many of us are clemency recipients, seeking relief for brothers and sisters left behind. We have waited for every list released by the Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA), hoping to see more extremely deserving names. We have remained largely silent in appreciation of your compassion to many suffering under draconian sentencing laws passed during the crack hysteria of late 1980s and 1990s. But with only six weeks of your presidency left, we must speak out.<\/p>\n
We ask for your immediate intervention for thousands more prisoners who will continue to suffer needlessly unless a broader clemency plan is implemented.<\/p>\n
Our foremost concern is that very few women are receiving clemency. This seems to be the result of gender bias. Women are far likelier than men to be serving long sentences because of the drugs a spouse or partner sold, due to broad application of the conspiracy law but the converse is not true. Few men, if any, ended up with 20 years to life based on illicit activity attributed to a wife or girlfriend. Sadly, only 68 out of 1,023 clemency recipients to date have been women.<\/p>\n
Melissa Trigg, for example, has perfect institutional conduct, had no prior convictions, and meets all the criteria of Clemency Project 2014 (CP14). She was previously addicted to methamphetamine, pled guilty and has served 10 years of a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. Her father is suffering with stage-four lung cancer, and her mother also has cancer. Her story epitomizes the need for criminal justice reform. Yet her application for clemency was denied.<\/p>\n
Many first offenders and marijuana prisoners applying for clemency are also being denied. For example, Craig Cesal (first offender) and Ferrell Scott are both serving life without parole for pot, despite having been vetted and approved by CP14. Crystal Munoz has served almost 10 years for a marijuana conspiracy charge; she has two young daughters who dreamed of spending the holidays with their mom. She was denied.<\/p>\n
We ask that you reconsider your decision to deny clemency for the following women: Eva Palma-Atencio,* Benedicta Arreola,* Rita Becerra,* Sandra Marie Bowen,* Kayla Buchanan, Patricia Cass, Patricia Cooney, Odis De La Cruz, Karen Davis, Randi Dulany, LaTonya Davis, Raquel Esquavel,* Vallia C. Friend, Nancy Ferneau, Kristin Goduto, LaShonda Hall, Tynice Hall, Nelly Herrera,* Lenora Logan, Shanita McKnight, Eve Olivarez, Lazara Ordaz, Shanita McKnight, Barbara Pachecho, Melissa Trigg,* Shannon Randall, Kimberly Robinson, Anabel Valenzuela, Bernetta Willis, Mary Ziman<\/p>\n
And men: Edward Palma-Atencio* Michael Alexander,* Joel Audain, Wilfredo Barrios,* Deangelo Bishop, Julio Cesar Casa, Seth Cox,* Thomas Darr, Noe, Jr. Espino, Robert Garcia, Winston Griffiths,* Darryl S. Hope, Clarence Jenkins, Michael Montalvo, Reymundo Montoya, Keith Stewart, Blake Stover,* William Underwood, Sagrario Valdez, and Lawrence Wallace.<\/p>\n
And marijuana prisoners: Antonio Bascaro, Linda Byrnes, Craig Cesal,* Parker Coleman, Corvain Cooper, Andy Cox, Maurice Foley, Michael David Knight, Ken Kubinski, Crystal Munoz, Aaron Sandusky, Ferrell Scott,* and Rohan Walters.<\/p>\n
Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates recently said, \u201cThere are not many people who need to spend the rest of their lives in prison.\u201d We agree. Therefore, we wish to address these inconsistencies and search for cases that have slipped through the cracks.<\/p>\n
We realize OPA has a daunting task and is under tremendous pressure, yet time is running out. Federal prisoners were urged to file for clemency based on the reasonable expectation of careful, fair examination of their applications. This could best be achieved if OPA employed as many attorneys with defense backgrounds as it does former or current prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Your senior advisor Valerie Jarrett referred to protests in front of the White House, then added: \u201cAll you need to do is knock on the door\u2014we want to hear.\u201d This letter is our knock on the door. We respectfully request a meeting with a representative from the White House, Deputy Attorney General Yates and Deputy Pardon Attorney Larry Kupers to express our concerns about worthy candidates whose applications are either denied or remain pending.<\/p>\n
Alice Johnson, for example, is a first offender serving life, who filed for clemency in early 2015. She has the support of three Congress members, her warden, the African American Mayors Association and others. John Knock is a first offender serving life for marijuana. He filed in 2014. They have been passed over, while people who filed as recent as six months ago have received clemency. Moreover, many non-citizens have been denied, despite their eligibility.<\/p>\n
Clemency should not involve a labor-intensive process of determining whether people would receive less time if sentenced today. This is about mercy. The parole board used to focus on whether individuals had programmed and had reasonable conduct while in prison; that is what should be done now.<\/p>\n
Above all, we advocate the rapid implementation of a large-scale amnesty program, such as:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Amnesty for every nonviolent first offender with clear conduct who has served five years or more.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Amnesty for every second-time offender with clear conduct who has served 10 years or more.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Amnesty for every third-time offender with clear conduct who has served 15 years or more.<\/p>\n
\u2022 A reduction of every life sentence (including cases in which violence was committed by a co-conspirator and not the applicant)** to a term of no more than 20 years.<\/p>\n
It seems certain that President-elect Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions, his pick for attorney general, will not share your vision of mercy for drug prisoners. For this reason, we beg you to take the steps we suggest. Doing so will underline your legacy as the most compassionate, justice-oriented president in modern history.<\/p>\n
*CP14 approved\/filed, and\/or first offender and\/or non-citizen\u2028**Reviewed on a case by case basis, to determine culpability, or lack thereof<\/p>\n
Respectfully submitted,
\nClemency Recipients Seeking Justice for Prisoners Left Behind
\nRamona Brant – served 22 years on a LIFE sentence*
\nNorman Brown – served 24 years 6 months on a LIFE sentence*
\nKemba Smith – Clinton-era Kemba Smith Foundation served 6.5 years on 24 year sentence*
\nAngie Jenkins – served 18 years on a 30 year sentence*
\nAmy Ralston Povah – Clinton-era & Founder of CAN-DO Foundation served 9 yrs on 24 yr sent.
\nJason Hernandez – Founder of Crack Open the Door served 17.5 years on LIFE sentence
\nDorothy Gaines – Clinton-era-Founder of
\nDorothy Gaines Foundation served 6 yrs on 19 yr sent.
\nShauna Barry-Scott – served 10 years on 20 year sentence
\nDanielle Metz – served 23 years on a LIFE sentence
\nDonel M. Clark – served 22 years on 35 year sent.
\nBarbra Scrivner – served 20 years on 30 year sentence
\nMichelle Miles – Spoke at Yale University post release served 19 years on a 30 year sentence
\nIsrael Torres – Guest on Michael Santos program served 17 years on a LIFE sentence
\nPauline Kay Blake – served 14 years on a 24 year sentence
\nDarryl Reed – served 27 years 10 months on 35 year sentence
\nBilly Dekle – served 25 years 7 months on LIFE sentence
\nCharles \u201cFred\u201d Cundiff – served 26 years on a LIFE sentence
\nDickey Joe Jackson – Breaking Bad Truck Driver served 20 years on a LIFE sentence
\nDonna McDaniel – served 20 years on a 30 year sentence
\nGregory Liningham – 23 years 5 months on a LIFE sentence
\nBillie Taylor – served 24 years on a 34 year sentence
\nTelisha Watkins – served 9 years 10 months on 20 year sentence
\nTimothy Tyler – served 27 years on a LIFE sentence
\nAntonio Lopez – served 17 years on a 30 year sentence
\nTrevis Love – served 22 years on a LIFE sentence
\nCynthia Shank – served 10 years on 15 year sentence
\nBobby Joe Young – served 13 years on a 22 year sentence
\nRicky McCall – served 15 years on a LIFE sentence
\nGracie Ann Walker – served 10 years on 24 year sentence
\nDonella Harriel – served 13 years on a 22 year 6 month sentence
\nAntonio Reeves – served 11 years on 17 year sentence
\nAlicia Siller – served 14 years on a 21 year sentence
\nCarla Holte – served 15 years 10 months on a 21 year sentence
\nPhilander Butler – served 18 years on a LIFE sentence
\nOlynthia Louise Hinton – served 11 years on 20 year sentence
\nAngela LaPlatney – served 11 years 9 months on a 20 year sentence
\nLamont Glass – served 19 years on 22 year sentence
\nDebra Brown – served 14 years 8 months on 20 year sentence
\nCourtney Hurt – served 10 years on a 30 year sentence
\nDavid De\u2019Juan Wise – served 12 years on 20 year sentence
\nSusan Rosenberg – Clinton-era recipient Founding Member of the Council
\nLinda Evans – Clinton-era recipient – Co-Founder of All of Us or None
\nWeldon Angelos – Weldon Angelos Foundation – served 13 years on a 55 year sentence
\nLarry Duke – served 24 years on a LIFE sentence (compassionate release)
\n*Selected to have lunch with President Obama on March 30, 2016 \u2028(Obama recipients unless otherwise noted)<\/p>\n
Advocates For Clemency Applicants<\/strong><\/p>\n Andrea James – Recipient of Robert F. Kennedy award – 2016; Founder of Families for Justice as Healing Co-Founder of National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls (the Council) Formerly Incarcerated and Impacted Family Members<\/strong><\/p>\n Patricia Williams – Graduate of Wharton School of Finance – formerly incarcerated and advocate for clemency applicant Michael Montalvo serving LIFE <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls has written an OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA \u00a0urging him to switch to a broader plan of “amnesty.” December 13, 2016 The Honorable Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President, We are advocates for prisoners seeking clemency….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,4],"tags":[27],"class_list":["post-6212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-activism","category-can-do-news","tag-can-do-foundation"],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"Amy Ralston Povah","author_link":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/author\/candoamy\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":30,"name":"Activism","slug":"activism","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":30,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":51,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":30,"category_count":51,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Activism","category_nicename":"activism","category_parent":0},{"term_id":4,"name":"CAN-DO News","slug":"can-do-news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":224,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":4,"category_count":224,"category_description":"","cat_name":"CAN-DO News","category_nicename":"can-do-news","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":27,"name":"CAN-DO Foundation","slug":"can-do-foundation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":27,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":461,"filter":"raw"}],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":30,"label":"Activism"},{"value":4,"label":"CAN-DO News"}],"post_tag":[{"value":27,"label":"CAN-DO Foundation"}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6212"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14791,"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212\/revisions\/14791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sheryanne.com\/cando-new2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nTopeka Sam – Co-Founder of the Council; Founder of Ladies of Hope Ministries
\nPhyllis Hardy – Matriarch of the Council\u2028Lois Ahrens – Founding Director of The Real Cost of Prisons Founding Member of the Council \u2028Vivian D. Nixon Executive Director – College and Community Fellowship
\nSyrita Steib-Martin – Operation Restoration
\nIvy Woolf Turk – Project Liberation
\nLaura Whitehorn, Release Aging People in Prison\/RAPP (RAPPCampaign.com)
\nTeresa Y and Laurin Hodge – Co-Founder & Executive Director Mission: Launch, Inc.
\nBeth Curtis – Life for Pot and sister of clemency applicant John Knock
\nP.S. Ruckman – Pardon Power
\nEric Sterling – Criminal Justice Policy Foundation
\nRon Hampton – Blacks in Law Enforcement
\nJonathan Perri – Associate Campaigns Director change.org
\nKaren Garrison – Mommie Activist and Sons\u2028Donna Hylton – From Life to Life \u2028Evie Litwok – Witness to Mass Incarceration \u2028Beatrice Codianni – Reentry Central \u2028Sharon Brooks – Founder Peace of Hope, Inc.
\nDenise C. McCreary-Founder\/President-Hands Of Hope Outreach Ministries, INC.
\nNora Callahan – November Coalition
\nDawn Harrington – Free Hearts
\nAlexandra Chambers – Nashville Feminist Collective
\nMalik King – EPIC and CAN-DO Prisoner Outreach Coordinator
\nAnrica Caldwell – member Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
\nArlinda Johns – Guardian Angel Program
\nAlaine Lowell – Director of Thomas Paine Society
\nStephanie Landa – Freedom Grow
\nCathryn Michon – Award Winning Filmmaker, actress and activist
\nDavid Borden – StoptheDrugWar.org
\nStephen Downing Deputy Chief, Los Angeles Police Department (Ret)
\nDiane Goldstein Lieutenant, Redondo Beach, CA Police Department (Ret)
\nChandra Bozelko – Winner of National Society of Newspaper Columnists and Webby Awards
\nKathy Morse – featured in Bill Moyers documentary – RIKERS
\nStacey Borden Founder\/President of New Beginnings Reentry Services, Inc. (Boston MA.)
\nGretchen Burns Bergman, Co-founder & Executive Director of A New PATH and Lead Organizer of Moms United to End The War on Drugs
\nKathie Kane-Willis – Director – Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy\u2028Denise
\nAngela Cullen – Broken No More
\nSteven Miller, Police Sergeant, Canton, Michigan (Ret.)
\nHon. George Eskin, Judge of the California Superior Court (Ret.)
\nKimberly B. Cheney, former Attorney General, Vermont\u2028David A. Lanoie, Esq., Special Sheriff\/Superintendent, Greenfield, Massachusetts (Ret.)
\nDavid Long, Former Special Agent, US Department of Labor\u2019s Office of Inspector General
\nInge Fryklund, J.D., Former Cook County, Illinois Prosecutor
\nJack Wilborn, Reserve Police Officer, Glendale, Arizona (Ret.)
\nCarrie Roberts, Former Correctional Officer and Sheriff\u2019s Deputy, Colorado
\nNeill Franklin, Major, Maryland State Police (Ret.)
\nAllison Barker Watson, Former Assistant District Attorney, Tennessee
\nPaul J Steigleder II, Deputy Sheriff, Clackamas County, Oregon (Ret.)
\nGordon D McAllister Jr., Retired District Judge, Oklahoma<\/p>\n
\nMiquelle West – daughter of clemency applicant Michelle West
\nBrenda Sirois – Sister of clemency applicant Michael Pelletier serving LIFE for pot
\nAicha Bascaro – daughter of clemency applicant Antonio Bascaro – denied
\nTretessa Johnson and Catina Scales – daughter of clemency applicant Alice Johnson
\nClarissa Brown – Daughter of clemency appellant Lavone Roach
\nVeda McNeil Ajamu – Sister of clemency applicant Robert Shipp
\nVincent Holmes – Brother of clemency applicant Michael Holmes
\nBeth Cronan – Formally incarcerated and advocate for clemency applicant Terry Anderson
\nCollin Kavitz – son of clemency applicant Lori Kavitz
\nKyndia Riley – Daughter of two clemency applicants – Santra Rucker and Darryl Riley \u2028Lavithia Howard – Daughter of clemency applicant Cheryl Howard
\nSusan Kemble – Mother of Melissa Trigg – denied.
\nBrigitte Barren-Williams, Gina Stephenson and Heather Nunley – sisters of clemency applicant David Barren.
\nJanika Bostick – Sister of clemency applicant Rose Summers
\nJerri Vega – Daughter of clemency applicant Geraldo \u201cJerry\u201d Vega
\nSkyler and Serrell – daughter and son of Ferrell Scott – denied
\nDoretha Hall- Son of clemency applicant LaShonda Hall – denied
\nArlinda Johns – Formerly Incarcerated and advocate for Tynice Hall – denied
\nJane and Nick Scarmazzo – Parents of Luke Scarmazzo serving 20 years for pot
\nCarol Yohe and Clifford Burgoon – Parents of clemency applicant Clarissa Burgoon
\nMakayla Garron and Christian Davis – Children of Clarissa Burgoon
\nJodi Loretta – Mother of Michael Chancellor serving 15 years for marijuana, convicted in 2013
\nBette Herman Davis – Advocate for clemency applicant Nancy Ferneau – denied
\nSanta Christina – Advocate for clemency applicant Schearean Means served LIFE
\nCheryl Ward – Formerly incarcerated and advocate for Rhonda Turpin, Andrea Joy James
\nSarah Zaba – Formerly incarcerated, works at Vera Institute of Justice and graduate student at Columbia University
\nDoug Stover – brother of clemency applicant Blake Stover – denied
\nAnna Marie Clausen – Mother of clemency applicant Adam Clausen
\nGeorgean Arsons – Guardian Angel for Angela Wright and Ricardo Montes
\nJazzmin Brianne – Daughter of clemency applicant Roberta Bell
\nMarkia Sykes – daughter of clemency applicant Clinton Matthews
\nChristine Edwards – Formerly incarcerated and advocate for clemency applicant Crystal Mattern \u2028Helen Jones – Mother of clemency applicant Rita White
\nMaruenne Griese – Registered RN – mother of incarcerated daughter
\nSandra Moore – wife of clemency applicant Sherman Moore
\nCheneace Harris – Fianc\u00e9 of clemency applicant Gregory Anthony Collins
\nMelyssa Olier – Fianc\u00e9 of clemency applicant Jamel Gregory (1st offender serving LIFE)
\nTikka Mitchell – Daughter of denied clemency applicant Solomon Montagueo serving LIFE under old 100 to 1 crack ratio
\nDebi Campbell – Formerly incarcerated and advocate for clemency applicant Chad Marks
\nYvonne and Walter Mosley – mother and step-dad of clemency applicant Christopher Holyfield
\nJane Byrne – Formerly Incarcerated
\nCarrie Tyler – Sister of Tim Tyler \u2028Elizabeth Bishop – Sister of Jimmy Romans serving life for pot
\nSam Spellman – Formerly incarcerated and brother of clemency applicant Phyllis Hood
\nAndrea Lister-Pierce – Formerly incarcerated
\nKaren Taylor – Formerly incarcerated
\nRita Juarez, Vanessa, Angel and Maurillo Lopez, family members of clemency recipient Antonio Lopez
\nBianca Ochoa-Hernandez – daughter of clemency applicant Aurelia Ochoa-Hernandez<\/p>\n