Saturday, May 23, 2015

State Inmates

 Jeff Mizanskey received a commutation from Missouri Governor Nixon.  In Missouri, this means that he can now recieve parole from the Missouri Parole Board.  Let's hope they act with due speed.  Jeff Mizanskey has been on featured on the web site Life for Pot.  He is listed with some other nonviolent marijuana inmates who need commutations so they won't spent the rest of their lives in state prisons.



Monday, May 18, 2015

Former U.S. Pardon Attorney Blasts Process / Project



As we become more and more concerned about the success of Clemency Project 2014, I thought I'd share this video provided by PS Ruckman over at Pardon Power.

We are now into the 17th month after the launching of the promise of sentencing relief for the army of federal nonviolent citizens serving egregiously long sentences.  

Since I concern myself with those unfortunate offenders who  were charged with conspiracy for nonviolent marijuana offenses, hope rests with the discovery of mercy, compassion and justice within the Executive Branch.  

As I look at all nonviolent drug offenders with life sentences or defacto life - an obvious pattern begins to emerge.  These sentences are not given because of the nature of these offenders actions, but because of the prosecutors charging decisions.  It could not be a coincidence that these offenders were almost all charged with conspiracy - the easiest charge to prosecute with the slimmest amount of evidence and they all elected to exercise their 6th Amendment Right to Trial.

Had these two circumstances been part of their case, they would most certainly have been released long ago.



Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Life For Pot - Online

 Click the link on Life for Pot.  Darrell Hayden was granted a Commutation today by President Barack Obama. 

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Monday, March 16, 2015

16 Percent of Federal Prison Population to Obama: Set Us Free!

Piece from PS Ruckman's Blog - Pardon Power

 16 Percent of Federal Prison Population to Obama: Set Us Free!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Home

 New Web Site for Nonviolent Inmates Serving Sentences of Life without Parole for Marijuana


Sunday, October 19, 2014

CAN-DO Home

 This is a very good site for clemency information.
Can-Do Justice through Clemency
CAN-DO Home

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Letter to Congress and Thanksgiving Greeting



Life for Pot – Release Nonviolent Drug Offenders


BETH CURTIS 
100 HALE RD
ZANESVILLE, OH. 43701
PH. # 740 452 2867


Dear Congressman ----


Reform of our Criminal Justice System needs to be one of the primary concerns for Congress.  “Our Justice is too harsh, too unevenly enforced, and too haphazard in its prosecution and sentencing.”
As the Senate and the House consider and pass sentencing reform bills that will give sentencing relief to future defendants and even a select group of those presently incarcerated, this will not remedy the harshness of the penalty for many presently incarcerated who received the brunt of the excesses of our costly War on Drugs.
This is the group of non-violent drug offenders who were given sentences of Life without Parole or de facto Life without Parole for non-violent drug offenses.  These are non-violent citizens who will die in Federal Prison for offenses that will not be charged or sentenced in the same manner in the future. 
We are advocating for those who have no violence in their case and no violence in their past.   These individuals were harshly sentenced because they were aggressively charged with conspiracy and also exercised their sixth amendment right to trial.  Exercising your right to trial assures an egregious sentence.

Even though these inmates are non-violent, they are typically held for years in High Security Federal Facilities simply because of the length of their sentences.  This is a waste of Federal dollars and an affront to justice.
We would ask Congress to consider passing legislation that would grant retroactive sentencing relief to this same group of individuals.  The war on drugs has impacted so many families in such a harsh manner that many of us will not see justice until the sentencing of Life without Parole or de facto Life without Parole for non-violent drug offenders has been rectified.

Sincerely,

Beth Curtis MSW
Life for Pot



WAITING FOR THANKSGIVING

JAMESTOWN COLONISTS BROUGHT HEMP TO VIRGINIA IN 1621 GOVERNOR WILLIAM BRADORD ORGANIZED THE 1ST THANKSGIVING IN 1621

FAMILIES OF PRISONERS OF WAR ON DRUGS WILL MISS THEIR LOVED ONES AT THE TABLE.
Nonviolent marijuana offenders with no violent priors are serving sentences of Life without Parole for marijuana only offenses.  They are missed by family and friends who do not understand the lack of redemption, mercy and forgiveness.  This travesty can be corrected

1.  Remove marijuana from the Controlled Substance Act Schedule
2.  End mandatory minimums that make this harsh sentencing possible for those who exercise
     Their Sixth Amendment Right to Trial
3.  Pass retroactive legislation for sentencing relief for non-violent drug offenders.

SEND THESE NONVIOLENT MARIJUANA OFFENDERS
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

john knock a case of charging disparity

Please visit the site for John Knock.  John is a nonviolent marijauan first time offender who received two life terms plus twenty in the Northern District of Florida - Eleventh Circuit.  He need to have a commutation from President Barack Obama

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Registration Open for Clemency Project 2014

 This important project depends on thousands of pro bono attorneys volunteering to represent nonviolent inmates who have received egregious sentences that are not fiscally responsible nor just.
Registration Open for Clemency Project 2014

Monday, June 2, 2014

Clemency: The Historical Tradition

 The Clemency Report is a site I recently found that has lots of current information about clemency that will interest those of us whose lives depend on it.


Wednesday, April 9, 2014


Grant Group Clemency to Nonviolent Drug Offenders Serving Life Sentences



We are asking the President Obama to grant a systemic or group Presidential Clemency to a unique category of nonviolent federal inmates.  This group would be nonviolent drug offenders serving sentences of life without parole or de facto life without parole.

Friday, April 4, 2014



Life for Pot – Release Nonviolent Drug Offenders
 100 Hale Rd, Zanesville, OH. 43701
 
                                      March 10, 2014 
Dear Congressman ----

Reform of our Criminal Justice System needs to be one of the primary concerns for Congress.  Our Justice is too harsh, too unevenly enforced, and too haphazard in its prosecution and sentencing.

As the Senate and the House consider and pass sentencing reform bills that will give sentencing relief to future defendants and even a select group of those presently incarcerated, this will not remedy the harshness of the penalty for many presently incarcerated who received the brunt of the excesses of our costly War on Drugs.

This is the group of non-violent drug offenders who were given sentences of Life without Parole or de facto Life without Parole for non-violent drug offenses.  These are non-violent citizens who will die in Federal Prison for offenses that will not be charged or sentenced in the same manner in the future. 
 
We are advocating for those who have no violence in their case and no violence in their past.   These individuals were harshly sentenced because they were aggressively charged with conspiracy and also exercised their sixth amendment right to trial. 
Even though these inmates are non-violent, they are typically held for years in High Security Federal Facilities simply because of the length of their sentences.  This is an egregious waste of Federal dollars and an affront to justice.

After Deputy Coles remarks to the NY Bar asking for suggestion for the problem of over incarceration, Life for Pot sent the enclosed “Suggestion” to President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and Deputy Attorney General James Cole

The “Suggestion” is for a systemic or group clemency for this group. 
We would ask Congress to consider passing legislation that would grant retroactive sentencing relief to this same group of individuals.  

The war on drugs has impacted so many families in such a harsh manner that many of us will not see justice until the sentencing of Life without Parole or de facto Life without Parole for non-violent drug offenders has been rectified.
We are enclosing the Suggestion that was sent to the President and The Department of Justice.

Sincerely,

Beth Curtis
Life for Pot