New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Grants Clemency To 61 Individuals

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued pardons to 18 individuals who are contributing members of society and face the threat of deportation and other immigration-related challenges as a result of previous convictions, pardons to 39 individuals who committed misdemeanors and non-violent crimes when they were 16 or 17 years old and have been crime free for 10 years or more, and commutations to two individuals who have demonstrated substantial evidence of rehabilitation and a commitment to community violence reduction.

JoAnne Page, President & CEO of the Fortune Society, said, “I thank Governor Cuomo for exercising his clemency power to recognize strong evidence of rehabilitation in incarcerated individuals. I know that people can change, I see it every day with the men and women who are turning their lives around at the Fortune Society.  Commutation sends a powerful message that when people change their lives and the lives of others behind bars, that matters.  His recognition that people who committed crimes can also do good things is so inspirational to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated New Yorkers.”