Author: Amy Ralston Povah

Due to hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls from prisoners panicking due to halfway house closures, CAN-DO conducted a survey and the results were worse than we expected.  Even prisoners who were leaving the very next day have had … Read the rest

CAN-DO Foundation founder Amy Ralston Povah, a clemency recipient herself who helped prepare Pelletier’s application, says she’s holding out hope that Obama will issue a final list of commutations on Friday.

“If a paraplegic serving life for pot is not … Read the rest

The CAN-DO Foundation and Change.org have organized a massive clemency “movement” page, where many of our clemency applicants have an active petition on Change.org/clemency.  This has been an invaluable tool for anyone seeking support for a pending clemency petition.  … Read the rest

CAN-DO Vice President Anrica Caldwell worked with C.J. Ciarmella, a reporter for Reason to delve into the ironic nature of her fiancé, David Barren’s clemency:

“I’ve been commuted,” he told Caldwell in a flat voice, before pausing to take a … Read the rest

Tysha Williams is an actress and activist that tackles both serious and fun issues on her new online tv series, Studio 3 Hollywood.  On December 4, 2017, Studio 3 released Tysha’s interview with CAN-DO founder Amy Povah.  They quickly get … Read the rest

Drug War Stories interviewed Amy Povah of CAN-DO in a Q and A about her activism, Obama’s clemency initiative, the drug war, the Trump administration, and what is on the horizon at CAN-DO.  Read the whole story here. 

 … Read the rest

Here is the final list under President Obama:

President Obama Grants Commutations

WASHINGTON – Today, the President granted commutation of sentence to 330 individuals:

• Abdulmuntaqim Ad-Deen – Baltimore, MD
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; District of … Read the rest

The appointment of retired Army General Mark S. Inch to head the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is a major blow to those working for prison reform under Trump. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on August 1, 2017 that Inch … Read the rest

Fox 11’s Christine Divine aired a segment devoted entirely to President Obama’s clemency project on August 19th, at 10:30 pm PT.  It began with the story of Josephine Ledezma, followed by an interview with CAN-DO Founder Amy Povah and … Read the rest

Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America hosted:
National Town Hall: The Clemency Initiative that aired, nationwide on Dec 19, 2016

Panelists include:
Van Jones, former President Obama advisor
Amy Povah, recipient of clemency
Sandy Ogilvy, Catholic University … Read the rest

The CAN-DO Foundation supported Carol Richardson’s clemency.  She was #8 on the CAN-DO Top 25 Women that deserved clemency.  Her relapse is the perfect example why we believe that addiction is a medical issue, not a criminal issue.  There is … Read the rest

CAN-DO Founder Amy Povah  in the feature length documentary, Incarcerating US.
Her case exemplifies what is wrong with our current drug conspiracy laws that ensnare wives and girlfriends who are given an ultimatum to either “cooperate” or be indicted for … Read the rest

Excerpts: “With about four months to go before Obama’s term ends, time is running out to even that proportion, according to Amy Povah, a former federal inmate whose 24-year sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton in 2000.”

“Povah, who … Read the rest

“Crystal is one of the few women I’ve worked with that has an opportunity to reunite with her daughters before they become women, before they grow out of the stage where they need their mothers to be hands-on,” reflected Amy … Read the rest