Cooper uses clemency power as vigil continues outside his house

Dec 20

BY KELAN LYONS | DECEMBER 20, 2022 4:00 PM

Gov. Roy Cooper commuted the sentences of six people currently incarcerated North Carolina prisons and granted pardons of forgiveness to four other people on Tuesday afternoon.

“Ensuring fairness in our justice system through executive clemency is a responsibility I take seriously,” Cooper said. “We carefully consider research and recommendations made by the Juvenile Sentence Review Board to commute sentences for crimes committed by minors. All of these individuals are deserving of clemency and we will continue to work to protect our communities and improve the fairness of our justice system.”

A press release sent by Cooper’s office states that the use of clemency follows an “intensive review” of each application, which includes the circumstances of the crimes involved, the length of the sentences, a person’s conduct while incarcerated and their readiness to adapt to life outside of prison.

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Decarcerate Now! NC

Decarcerate Now! NC is a broad coalition of North Carolinians calling for justice, fairness, and second chances for people incarcerated in our state prisons, especially Black people and other people of color.

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