Contact:
Tripp Laino, 202-999-4273
tlaino@famm.org

FAMM praises Pennsylvania Board of Pardons’ consideration of clemency for 21 prisoners serving life without parole

Only 23 hearings have been granted since 2015

Harrisburg – In response to the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons hearing the cases of 21 people with life sentences today (nearly as many as have been heard since Gov. Tom Wolf took office in 2015), FAMM’s Director of State Policy for Pennsylvania, Celeste Trusty, issued the following statement:

“We’re thrilled that the board has recommended commutation in 9 cases, with several more under advisement for potential future commutation. It’s hard enough to get these hearings for people sentenced to life without parole. The process is difficult and uneven, marked mainly by denials. The real work on parole reform needs to happen in the legislature. Pennsylvania has far too many people serving mandatory life without parole sentences, and that needs to change.”

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies in 6 states and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.