Author: Amy Ralston

Amy Ralston Povah is a clemency recipient under President Clinton, an award winning filmmaker, and founder of the CAN-DO Foundation.

Ferrell Scott and Craig Cesal in Washington Post

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

Reason tackles the conspiracy law using case of CAN-DO President, Amy Povah

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

Glamour Magazine features CAN-DO Women, Cheryl Howard and LaShonda Hall

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

Pot Lifer, Ferrell Scott in High Times

 

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

CAN-DO in Business Insider October 23, 2016

 

“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

Washington Post – Joy to the lucky and anguish to the disappointed

“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

Incarcerating US; a socially relevant documentary

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

‘Thanksgiving in Prison’ by Amy Povah, in the Influence

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!

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

Connie Farris’s story in The Marshall Project

Christine Thomson of the Marshall Project reached out to the CAN-DO Foundation for compelling cases of compassionate release applicants in federal prison, seeking relief under a policy that is almost always denied to worthy candidates, even if they meet all … Read the rest

CAN-DO Founder, Amy Povah’s radio interview archives, plus 2 part radio interview with Kerry Reynolds for KMUD

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Kerry Reynolds hosts a weekly show about Cannabis News and requested an interview with CAN-DO Founder Amy Povah for what she hopes will become an ongoing series about people serving 10 – Life for drug non-violent drug cases.

Following headlines, … Read the rest

Truthout.org Focuses on Clemency and the Guardian Angel Program

Victoria Law, a reporter for Truthout.org has written another exceptional article about clemency and interviewed several of the CAN-DO/Crack Open the Door Guardian Angels who are assisting clemency applicants.

“I don’t understand the logic of the denials,” said Amy Povah, … Read the rest

Bill Maher Wants More Pardons – Thanks to CAN-DO

On January 20, 2015, CAN-DO sent a package to Bill Maher begging him to address the lack of Presidential clemencies for drug offenders, especially people serving time for pot on his show. This was the second time CAN-DO founder Amy … Read the rest

Reuters contacted CAN-DO for intel regarding Clemency Project 2014

Reuters reached out to the CAN-DO Foundation seeking the names and intel regarding specific cases of clemency applicants who were experiencing difficulties after submitting applications to President Obama’s Clemency Project 2014 (CP14).  We had become extremely concerned over several cases, … Read the rest

CAN-DO’s Amy Povah and Miquelle West on FOX 11 with Christine Divine

Fox 11 Christine Divine interviewed Amy Povah and Miquelle West, daughter of Michelle West, a prisoner that the CAN-DO Foundation is assisting in her endeavor to receive clemency from President Obama before he leaves office.

The Emmy Award winning Christine … Read the rest

CANDO PODCAST #1 Cedric Lamont Dean

CANDO’s first podcast, hosted by Amy Povah and Luis Rivera welcomes Cedric Lamont Deal, who received an immediate release last November.  In our first show, Cedric explains how he lost his half-way house date, but then was rewarded with the … Read the rest

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