Does anyone know if a decision was made to allow the Clemency Board to grant commutation of sentences without the governor's approval?

My penpal will be applying in Dec. and I am wondering if it might be better for him to wait a year until the current governor is voted out of office. I have heard she never grants clemency even when the board makes a unanimous decision.

Ummmmm In AZ there is no one yet of importance running against Janet sooo don't count on her not being reelected... az does keep voting in Joe as well soo it is far from a shoo in

I have not heard of the Clemency board being changed tho ... but I am not an expert on the clemency area., I wish your pal well

Chintath, I don't think they ever did anything with SB1242, it was assigned to a committe but I thinks that's as far as it went.

Mel

Chintah, I don't think it's just Janet. From what I've heard, AZ has a bad reputation in general as far as granting clemency. I read in the paper awhile back that our last 2 governors have only granted a hand full, if that, a piece in their whole office time. My guess would be that chances of getting clemency are even worse since the whole hostage thing. But there's always hope...good luck to your penpal. :)

http://www.azceg.org/newsletters/nw13-14.htm

here is a link that might be able to shed some light on clemency for you and maybe offer some new resources

Arriana,

Thanks for the link.

Wow, this is really discouraging!
http://www.azceg.org/newsletters/nw13-14.htm

here is a link that might be able to shed some light on clemency for you and maybe offer some new resources

well that was not my objective at all but to me it is best to know the battle that you are up against to be able to tackle it best

also never hurts to reach out for help with all journeys
good luck to your pal

NEVER give up hope, no matter what!!

Ummmmm In AZ there is no one yet of importance running against Janet sooo don't count on her not being reelected... az does keep voting in Joe as well soo it is far from a shoo in

Joe is gonna die in office because the voters here that keep putting him in office don't have personal experience with his jails and deputies. Those of us who have dealt with the county jail system know that it is some of the worst conditions that people could ever be placed in. As for Janet - My personal beliefs is she is a commie - other then that, I've heard a rumor flying around that Symington is gonna run come next election

I have not heard of the Clemency board being changed tho ... but I am not an expert on the clemency area., I wish your pal well

I've never heard of the Clemency board changing either, nor the gov's in office offering clemency...

Don't even get me started on the State's assistance to people on Parol/Probation readjusting into society...they want to lower the repeat offender's % rate here but yet don't give a rats arse on how these guys are trying to survive. Had a buddy couple of years back living in a half way house. Nice clean...did it matter to the PO that they guy running the place would offer the guys a later curfew if they washed his car? Did it matter to the PO that the guy running the halfway house was pushing drugs as well? Nope!

We spoke with his PO, tried to get the halfway house shut down, and tried like hell to get my buddy transfered to live at my apartment...His PO REFUSED! REFUSED!!! to let him transfer. We couldn't get a different PO, supervisor wouldn't give us the time of day. It was just utter bull hockey.

I haven't had the greatest experiences with the Parole/Probation/County jail system, and so far haven't had the greatest experience with the prison system either. All of them need to be reformed from the ground up! :blah:

After reading PTO posts for a year, I wonder if there is a system in any state that isn't corrupt or cares about rehab. I am surprised more ex-offenders don't sue. Two of my penpals say they plan to sue AZ but I doubt if they will follow through. When people in my chuch (Catholic) started to sue, the church was forced to change. Lawyers jumped on this scandal and bankrupted some dioceses. I've heard Joe has some pretty deep pockets.


Joe is gonna die in office because the voters here that keep putting him in office don't have personal experience with his jails and deputies. Those of us who have dealt with the county jail system know that it is some of the worst conditions that people could ever be placed in. As for Janet - My personal beliefs is she is a commie - other then that, I've heard a rumor flying around that Symington is gonna run come next election



I've never heard of the Clemency board changing either, nor the gov's in office offering clemency...

Don't even get me started on the State's assistance to people on Parol/Probation readjusting into society...they want to lower the repeat offender's % rate here but yet don't give a rats arse on how these guys are trying to survive. Had a buddy couple of years back living in a half way house. Nice clean...did it matter to the PO that they guy running the place would offer the guys a later curfew if they washed his car? Did it matter to the PO that the guy running the halfway house was pushing drugs as well? Nope!

We spoke with his PO, tried to get the halfway house shut down, and tried like hell to get my buddy transfered to live at my apartment...His PO REFUSED! REFUSED!!! to let him transfer. We couldn't get a different PO, supervisor wouldn't give us the time of day. It was just utter bull hockey.

I haven't had the greatest experiences with the Parole/Probation/County jail system, and so far haven't had the greatest experience with the prison system either. All of them need to be reformed from the ground up! :blah:

As for next year's election for governor, many potential candidates have bowed out early. Either "not being finished with my work in Congress" or "wanting to spend more time with my family" translate to Napolitano looks unbeatable. It really is surprising, considering her early missteps.

As for the clemency issue, maybe Fife Symington is the best choice, although he appears to be unelectable for any office. I wonder whether the fact that he is an actual recipient of a pardon (federal) would soften his heart.

After reading PTO posts for a year, I wonder if there is a system in any state that isn't corrupt or cares about rehab. I am surprised more ex-offenders don't sue. Two of my penpals say they plan to sue AZ but I doubt if they will follow through. When people in my chuch (Catholic) started to sue, the church was forced to change. Lawyers jumped on this scandal and bankrupted some dioceses. I've heard Joe has some pretty deep pockets.
As most know there are several different religions throughout the prison. The system would only allow certain religions their right to practice. The federal prisons changed over once some of these guys filed a discrimation suit. The state prisons however it took forever to get them to roll. I seriously doubt if they did sue if it would make a difference. The judges read the law as it fits to them and to the certain situation, so two different cases could have the same classification of Murder 1 but get two different sentences depending upon how the judge views the laws concering that particular charge.

Yea Joe has some deep pockets and I hope he chokes on every penny. Tent city is nothing but blue collar criminals. Granted - don't do the crime - don't do the time, however...how does a mistake under 500 bucks in damages classify as time in 120 degree summers with less then 2000 calories a day and pink underwear? It doesn't add up to me at all.

As for the clemency issue, maybe Fife Symington is the best choice, although he appears to be unelectable for any office. I wonder whether the fact that he is an actual recipient of a pardon (federal) would soften his heart.
You know I didn't even think of that. Who knows - that pardon could cost him the seat in the first place. I'm unsure of it. I know the New Times is advocating the "de-throning" of Napolitano and KUPD calls her a Nazi. Most of the media outlets that hit a lot of 20 and 30 something people can't stand Napolitano or Joe and want them out!

""""Fife Symington is the best choice""" he just announced he is not running..


Looks like Janet will be back as there is no huge competition at this time

After reading through this thread again, I am wondering why we even have a Clemency Board and paying them a monthly salary, if they are turning everybody down anyways? :mad:

""""Fife Symington is the best choice""" he just announced he is not running..


Looks like Janet will be back as there is no huge competition at this time

Well dammit! :angry: Oh boy this sucks. Janet hasn't done a damned thing for the system here like she said she was going to. Wonderful!!

Oh boy - Looks like I'm writing in Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny!

A trained baboon could do a better job then her.

After reading through this thread again, I am wondering why we even have a Clemency Board and paying them a monthly salary, if they are turning everybody down anyways?

I agree, but even though they don't grant anything anyway, there are civil rights that can not be violated and having one in opperation satisfies that requirement of law and such.

I'm curious if the Clemency Board is going to become over extended with the Innocence Protection Act. There's a lot of people who are innocent that can not afford proper representation - so I'm curious if they would go through the cb to get the law on their side to prove their innocence. I wonder how that would work...I know that the inital appeal process has to be started within so many days after the conviction is final, and appeals get turned down left and right.

The IPA is getting people out after 10 and 15 years...their appeal time frames have already lapsed and then some! Soooo...I'm wondering if the CB would be responsible at that point for those utilizing the IPA?? hmmmmm

After reading through this thread again, I am wondering why we even have a Clemency Board and paying them a monthly salary, if they are turning everybody down anyways? :mad:

It isn't the Clemency Board that turns everyone down, it is the Governor.

There is a bill proposing that the Board ha final say, not the Gov., but it went to committee in January and I think nothing else happened. Even if it did pass, it would still have to go to a General Election to take effect.

Here is the link to the bill:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/47leg/1r/bills/sb1242p.htm

Bill status:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1242

My husband has gotten the Board to send him to the Governor twice. 2 1/2 years ago he got a unanimous yes but the Gov denied it on day 87. (she has 90 days on a unanimous or it goes into effect automatically) We just passed phase two for the second recommendation and now have to wait on the Gov again, but since she is a former Prosecutor/Attorney General it is unlikely she will grant many. Most states allow the board to make the final decision, and it would be nice it Az would go that way.

As far as the Board is concerned, they look for 2 things:
1) Was the sentence too stiff for the crime
2) Will the inmate re-offend if released.

I have been to the board for 3 Phase one hearings and 2 Phase two hearings.
If it has not been very long since incarceration you can almost guarentee a NO vote at phase one. If you can offer compelling evidance that they qualify on the two factors listed above, you have a good shot.

I can offer additional advice to anyone looking to go before the Board since I have done so many times. As far as the Governor, I do not yet know how to get past her. In our case, if my husband gets it, he only gets one year off a 10 year sentence. (He has been in for over 7 already) I am only cautiously optomistic as I learned the heartbreak of dissapointment 2 years ago.

Good luck to everyone. Write me if you want to know more about our experiences.

Thank you so much for the helpful advice. I am sorry you have been disappointed and hope success in the future.

My friend has been in over 11 years and has been sober for that long, rarely gets into trouble and takes advantage of any class and support group available to him. He took a plea bargain and got 21 years for aggravated assault. No one was hurt and he was very drunk and took little money. He'd had a few pot convictions before then. He'll be 53 yrs. old. I hope they'll consider his age. He's a talented Native American who sells his art in Europe and lots of his patrons all over the Europe as well as myself are willing to write references. I am at least going to try and use some points I found in an article about the skyrocketing cost of aging inmates.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or pointers. Thanks.

Are you going to try again soon, faithfulforever?


It isn't the Clemency Board that turns everyone down, it is the Governor.

There is a bill proposing that the Board ha final say, not the Gov., but it went to committee in January and I think nothing else happened. Even if it did pass, it would still have to go to a General Election to take effect.

Here is the link to the bill:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/47leg/1r/bills/sb1242p.htm

Bill status:
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=SB1242

My husband has gotten the Board to send him to the Governor twice. 2 1/2 years ago he got a unanimous yes but the Gov denied it on day 87. (she has 90 days on a unanimous or it goes into effect automatically) We just passed phase two for the second recommendation and now have to wait on the Gov again, but since she is a former Prosecutor/Attorney General it is unlikely she will grant many. Most states allow the board to make the final decision, and it would be nice it Az would go that way.

As far as the Board is concerned, they look for 2 things:
1) Was the sentence too stiff for the crime
2) Will the inmate re-offend if released.

I have been to the board for 3 Phase one hearings and 2 Phase two hearings.
If it has not been very long since incarceration you can almost guarentee a NO vote at phase one. If you can offer compelling evidance that they qualify on the two factors listed above, you have a good shot.

I can offer additional advice to anyone looking to go before the Board since I have done so many times. As far as the Governor, I do not yet know how to get past her. In our case, if my husband gets it, he only gets one year off a 10 year sentence. (He has been in for over 7 already) I am only cautiously optomistic as I learned the heartbreak of dissapointment 2 years ago.

Good luck to everyone. Write me if you want to know more about our experiences.