Shapiro, Keep Your Promises! Board of Pardons, Do Your Job! Commutation Now!
Right now, over 5000 people in Pennsylvania have been sentenced to die in prison, including elders, needed community and family members, and people who have done incredible work to transform themselves and their lives. Governor Shapiro and the Board of Pardons are failing at their job to give opportunities for these people to return home.
The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons (BOP) is the only avenue for second chances available to people serving Life Without Parole (otherwise known as Death By Incarceration, or DBI) and other inhumanely long “virtual life” sentences.
Governor Shapiro is playing politics with lives. His Board of Pardons does not offer a meaningful chance for people who have put in the hard work of self-transformation to finally come home. Pennsylvanians deserve better! We demand that Governor Shapiro get his Board of Pardons back on track!
Our Demands:
1. Governor Shapiro must pressure the Board of Pardons to approve more applicants for commutation, and once recommended by the BOP, Gov. Shapiro must sign off on commutation applications in a timely manner.
The approval rate for commutation applicants has nearly ground to a halt during Shapiro’s administration, despite his claims for reasonable and fair criminal justice reform during his candidacy.
2. Governor Shapiro must appoint the best people for the job.
The BOP has five members, three of whom are appointed by the governor. The appointees must be qualified, be familiar with communities most impacted by incarceration, and have a firm commitment to second chances. The current board has shown again and again that they do not meet these criteria.
Additionally, the appointment and confirmation process of board members must be transparent and meaningfully engage the public.
3. Governor Shapiro must use his power to make the Board of Pardons processes more transparent, and fair.
The Board must provide a written reason for their decisions, based on clear criteria. Without this there is no accountability or transparency as to why the board is making decisions.
For more information about the issue and what we can do about it click here.
Commutation in PA Now! 