Author: Amy Ralston Povah

Michael Knight is serving 17 years for Pot – Please sign his petition on Change.org

Name: Michael David Knight # 09943-029
DOB: 7-4-1981
Age: 40
Children: one son, Victor
Raised: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tried: Northern District of Iowa
Will Live… Read the rest

Published 01/12/2017 03:39 pm ET |

An alarming number of women, including first offenders have been denied clemency even if they fit all the criteria laid out by the Obama admin-istration, such as Lori Kavitz, Melissa Trigg and many more. … Read the rest

Lavonne Roach’s mother needs a liver and cannot survive much longer – will President Obama reunite this mother/daughter before it’s too late?  Tana Ganeva writes about Lavonne’s desperation to see her mother and Ferrell Scott – serving life for marijuana … Read the rest

CAN-DO Fondation cited in the following article entitled: Obama’s Clemency Program Has Failed Incarcerated Women

As of January 17, 2017, over 1,385 inmates had received clemency or been pardoned; only around 90 of those people are women, as far … Read the rest

Yale Law Students, Xiaonan “April” Hu and Theo Torres, wrote an Op Ed that was published in Mic on December 30, 2016 that spotlights numerous clemency applicants that meet all the criteria of Clemency Project 2014, who are still waiting … Read the rest

Vera Institute reached out to CAN-DO for a statement about the lack of women receiving clemency, something we are very passionate about and have devoted countless resources and energy toward.  In this article:  “The consequences that face the children and … Read the rest

When Amy Ralston Povah was escorted across the compound at FCI Dublin, after President Clinton granted her clemency, she told the women she would never forget them. Fifteen years later, Amy is still fighting to garner attention for the women … Read the rest

On the heels of a list of clemency denials released by the Dept of Justice, on November 29, 2016, reporters reached out to CAN-DO seeking information about select individuals that sent shock waves through the prisoner advocacy organizations, such as … Read the rest

CAN-DO President Amy Povah was the focal point of an article in Reason that used her case as an example to emphasize what is wrong with this nation’s conspiracy laws and why there should be more scrutiny and oversight.  … Read the rest

CAN-DO is elated to update this Glamour article with the exciting news that Cheryl Howard received clemency on 12/19/16  We want to thank all the hard working volunteers who assisted Cheryl on this journey, such as her daughter Lavithia Howard, … Read the rest

In 2007, Ferrell Scott was sentenced to life in prison, without parole, for possessing and conspiring to sell marijuana. Scott had no priors and has had perfect prison conduct. Yet when he appealed to President Obama for clemency, he … Read the rest

“The pace is only getting more frenzied as Obama’s last day in office approaches, said Amy Povah, the founder of CAN-DO, a nonprofit that advocates for clemency applicants. CAN-DO communicates daily with hundreds of inmates and their family members … Read the rest

“It was a great day for those who won the lottery and one more disappointment for everyone in the pipeline who should be on the list,” said Amy Povah, a former inmate and the founder of the CAN-DO Foundation, a … Read the rest

New film, Incarcerating US, features Amy Povah’s clemency from President Clinton that inspired her to start the CAN-DO Foundation and why she’s driven to help others seeking mercy through clemency. Women often serve time due to the actions of their … Read the rest

CAN-DO’s Founder writes about her worst Thanksgiving in prison. This Op Ed captures the essence of what it’s like in a prison visitation room on Thanksgiving day!

Prisoners waiting to hear if they will receive clemency are becoming anxious.  … Read the rest