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
Stacia was #15 on the CAN-DO Top 25 – she just received the blessing of clemency on 12.19.16
Name: Stacia Tarnike Smith
DOB: 4-23-74
Race: African American
Marital Status: Single
Age: 42
Children: 3
Charge: Conspiracy to posess with intent … 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
Tray Rock volunteered to be a “Guardian Angel” for several clemency applicants, including LaShonda Hall. She organized a rally in LaShonda’s hometown of Knoxville that was covered by The Knoxville Mercury news:
The female population serving time in prison increased … Read the rest
Joanne is now out but needs help. Please consider giving to her Gofundme campaign so she can afford to pay for an apartment during this transition time:
Name: Joanne Tragas #51090-018
DOB: March 24
Race: White
Age: 54
Children: 1… Read the rest
Congratulations to Lavonne Roach who is NOW FREE! We met up in Las Vegas for a huge hug and to celebrate with her amazing daughter Clarissa who worked hard to help bring her mother home.
Lavonne Roach 10431-073
Age: 56… Read the rest
Alicia Siller received clemency on October 27, 2016
Messages from Alicia Siller: I just want to let every one know that I got the BEST news ever today. Obama signed off on my clemency. Ill be coming home soon. So … Read the rest
Donella Harriel has been writing to CAN-DO founder Amy Povah and CAN-DO Prison Outreach Coordinator Malik King for over a year. But after the euphoria of winning the clemency lottery on August 3rd wore off, Amy started getting emails from … Read the rest
Steven Speal -#7 on the CAN-DO Top 25 men – got the best Holiday news ever – he’s going home!!!
Name: Steven Blair Speal
DOB: 8-4-71
Race: White
Marital Status: Single
Age: 45
Raised: Oklahoma
Case was tried: Wichita, Kansas… Read the rest
“I Got a 24-Year Sentence for MDMA My Husband Made”—Why We Badly Need More Clemencies for Women by Amy Ralston Povah for the Influence – a cutting edge publication that focuses primarily on the war on drugs.
September 22nd, 2016… Read the rest
Schearean Means was #5 on the CAN-DO Top 25 women – she received the clemency on 12/19/16 but her life sentence was reduced to 30 years so her out date is not until 12/2020. Thanks to First Step e was … Read the rest
Talked to Jessica on 8/27/21 after she was released from FCI Dublin and on her way home! She will be on home confinement and we are elated that she can now reunite with her children, family and friends! Congrats Jessica!… Read the rest
Please sign Jerry’s change.org petition and watch the video of his daughter Jerri.
Name: Jerry Vega 30392-053
DOB: 4-28-55;
Age: 65
Nationality: Puerto Rican;
Marital Status: Single
Children: one daughter – Jerri Vega
State from: New York State
State Charged:… Read the rest
44 CAN-DO women have joined a very small and distinguished group of women who have received Executive Clemency. Sadly, only 105 women have received clemency, to date, by President Obama out of 1715 commutations. Obviously, it is still a man’s … Read the rest
Please Sign Tynice Hall’s Change.org Petition
Name: Tynice Hall # 34596-177
DOB: 7/27/1983
Age: 36
Marital Status: Single
Children: One son, Jonathan
Raised: Texas
Tried: Texas
Will Live: Lubbock, TX
Charge(s): Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute … Read the rest
Amy Ralston Povah Founder
Alaine Lowell Senior Vice President
Anrica Caldwell Vice President
Cheryl Ward Secretary
Pat Williams Treasurer
Malik King Prison Outreach Coordinator
Maurenne Griese Program Director
Karen Dickson-Morrison Research Director
Lisa Jacobi Administrative Assistant
