On February 25th, join us in calling on Attorney General Josh Shapiro to keep the Board of Pardons functioning as it is designed---allowing people who have rehabilitated themselves after decades of incarceration to come home from prison.
Commutation is a pathway for people incarcerated on life and other long term sentences to be released. In a state that currently holds over 5,000 people on life without parole sentences at tremendous cost to our communities, it is a critical check and balance on our criminal legal system. Sadly, Attorney General Josh Shapiro is the most consistent ‘no’ vote at the Board of Pardons, mercilessly condemning people who have much to offer society to die in prison.
On February 25 at 12:30, we will rally at the Attorney General’s office in Pittsburgh to demand that Josh Shapiro uses his power to grant commutation rather than condemning people to die in prison.
Josh Shapiro has opposed the votes of the Chair of the Board, Lt. Governor Fetterman, and other members of the Board, denying people release even when prison wardens testify in their favor. He has denied people who had the support of the victims’ families, and people with serious health conditions and little time left to live. Many of the people who Josh Shapiro has denied freedom have spent decades in prison demonstrating dramatic growth and positive life change.
