(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the application process for letters of recommendation to the District of Columbia Clemency Board (the “Clemency Board”).
“In so many critical areas, the District of Columbia functions as a state, but one key element of statehood is that we lack the ability to grant pardons or commute sentences – a power that every state’s governor has,” said Mayor Bowser. “Today’s launch of the application process for letters of recommendation is yet another step towards statehood. I look forward to the day when I can issue a pardon or commute a sentence without having to ask the President.”
The mission of the Clemency Board is to consider applications from people convicted of D.C. Code offenses, and if in agreement that clemency is warranted, to help the applicant receive a pardon or commutation the Clemency Board will recommend applicants to the President of the United States for consideration.
“The Clemency Board is eager to hear from persons seeking clemency – especially persons in priority categories, such as those who were convicted and sentenced for offenses under a statutory scheme where the penalties have been reduced since they were convicted,” said Clemency Board Chairman Dr. Patrick Canavan. “We know that many people in prison have worked very hard to put themselves in a position to return home, safely to all, and they’ve paid their debt to society, even if their sentence has time remaining. We hope that we will be able spot those persons through their applications and that the President will take our recommendations seriously and give great deference to the thorough consideration we will give to applicants seeking our recommendation.”
Details of the application submittal process can be found on the Clemency Board’s website at clemency.dc.gov.
Social Media:
Mayor Bowser Twitter: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos