CAN-DO Foundation
{{Short description|United States non-profit organization}}
The CAN-DO Foundation (Clemency for All Nonviolent Drug Offenders) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation that fights for the release of nonviolent drug offenders from prison. The foundation educates the public about conspiracy law and advocates for law reform.
It was started by Amy Povah, herself released by presidential clemency in 2000 in the last year of Bill Clinton's Administration, having served 9 years of a 24-year sentence for conspiracy in a MDMA trafficking case.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-power-of-presidential-pardons|title=The power of presidential pardons|date=December 25, 2020|website=PBS NewsHour}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/21/926380156/trump-pardons-5-people-commuting-their-sentences|title=Trump Pardons 5 People, Commuting Their Sentences|website=NPR.org}}{{Cite web|url=https://revealnews.org/episodes/all-the-presidents-pardons/|title=All the president's pardons}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenentrepreneur.com/article/355477|title='Everything Costs More on the Inside:' Meet the Women Fighting for Pot Prisoners|date=August 31, 2020|website=GreenEntrepreneur}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-grants-clemency-crystal-munoz-former-inmate-friends-alice-marie-n1139786|title=Trump grants clemency to Crystal Munoz, inmate friends with Alice Marie Johnson|website=NBC News}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/amp-stories/who-did-trump-pardon/|title=Who did Trump pardon or grant clemency to?|newspaper=Washington Post}}
Cases
As of 2020, the foundation has helped over 100 prisoners receive clemency. Some of the notable cases have been:
- Charles "Duke" Tanner: Was given a life sentence for his first offense, a nonviolent drug trafficking charge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-power-of-presidential-pardons|title = The power of presidential pardons|website = PBS|date = 25 December 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://revealnews.org/episodes/pardon-me/|title=Pardon me}}
- Richard "Dickie" Lynn: In 1989, Lynn received a life sentence for conspiring with others in trafficking marijuana and cocaine into Alabama.{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Jim |date=2020-07-01 |title=Keys 'Dickie' Lynn released after 30-plus years in prison |url=https://keysweekly.com/42/keys-dickie-lynn-released-after-30-plus-years-in-prison/ |work=Keys Weekly |access-date=2020-12-30}}
- Michael “Meeko” Thompson: Sentenced to 42 to 62 years after being convicted of selling three pounds of marijuana to an undercover informant in December 1994.{{cite news |last=Simpson-Mersha |first=Isis |date=2020-12-23 |title=Man who served 20 years in marijuana case has sentenced commuted by governor |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2020/12/man-who-served-20-years-in-marijuana-case-has-sentenced-commuted-by-governor.html |work=MLive.com |access-date=2020-12-30}}
- Crystal Munoz: Sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2007 for conspiring to distribute marijuana.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-grants-clemency-crystal-munoz-former-inmate-friends-alice-marie-n1139786|title = Trump grants clemency to Crystal Munoz, inmate friends with Alice Marie Johnson|website = NBC News}}
- Alice Marie Johnson: Sentenced to a life sentence without parole for conspiracy to possess cocaine.{{Cite web|url=https://equaljusticeunderlaw.org/thejusticereport/2018/6/7/molfyhqbzhf0hq9ufm6214sxdd357s|title = Alice Marie Johnson is Commuted}}
- John Bolen: Sentenced to four life sentences for allowing drug smugglers to use his boat.{{cite news |last=Lawrence |first=T.H. |date=2020-10-27 |title='He really listens,' former inmate says of Trump after he grants clemency to non-violent offenders |url=https://sunshinesentinel.com/stories/561402351-he-really-listens-former-inmate-says-of-trump-after-he-grants-clemency-to-non-violent-offenders|work=Sunshine Sentinel |access-date=2021-01-04}}
- Lavonne Roach: Sentenced to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.{{Cite web|url=https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/you-can-t-give-up-lakota-sioux-woman-pardoned-by-trump-to-reunite-with-family-after-23-years|title = 'You Can't Give Up': Lakota Sioux Woman Pardoned by Trump to Reunite with Family After 23 Years}}
References
{{Reflist}}