Reprieves

Less Than Half a Percent of Pennsylvania Prisoners Have Been Granted Emergency Release During the Pandemic

Advocates had hoped Governor Tom Wolf would use his executive reprieve power to release thousands of people from prisons in the face of COVID-19.

Joshua Vaughn May 29, 2020

Man With Innocence Claim Is First to Die of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania Prisons

The Pennsylvania Innocence Project was seeking the exoneration of Rudolph Sutton when he died on April 8 from complications related to COVID-19.

Joshua Vaughn Apr 15, 2020

Pennsylvania Governor Could Release Hundreds of Prisoners As COVID-19 Spreads

Tom Wolf said Friday he will use his reprieve power, a form of clemency, to reduce the state prison population.

Joshua Vaughn Apr 10, 2020

Amid COVID-19 Panic, Pennsylvania Republicans Warn Governor Against Taking Executive Action to Release Prisoners

They tell Tom Wolf that taking any unilateral actions to reduce the state’s prison population would endanger public safety.

Joshua Vaughn Apr 09, 2020

A Rarely Used Power Could Free Prisoners in Pennsylvania. But the Governor Is Not Using It.

The Office of General Counsel determined that the governor could likely use reprieves to release vulnerable people from prison to control COVID-19’s spread, but the office is advising against it, according to internal emails obtained by The Appeal.

Joshua Vaughn Mar 31, 2020

Our Leaders Have the Power to Release People in Prison. Now They Must Use It.

State governors and the president have the authority to grant commutations and reprieves to people in prison across the country as COVID-19 spreads.

Rachel Barkow Mar 27, 2020