First Lady Wolf Talks Clemency For Women With Criminal Records

HARRISBURG, PA — First Lady of Pennsylvania Francis Wolf recently hosted the fifth installment of a series of virtual conversations about women's experiences in the judicial system of the United States, as well as retry into society after prison.

The series, titled 'Women In Reentry: Clemency, Expungement, and Clean Slate', revolves around clemency and its two distinct categories, which are pardons and commutations. Pardons constitute a total forgiveness of a crime, regardless if the person spent time in prison or not. Since 2015, Governor Tom Wolf has led the charge for pardon reform, issuing over 2,000 pardons.

"Pennsylvanians who have paid their debt to society and are positively contributing to their communities deserve a chance to reestablish their lives without the burden of their criminal record following them,” said First Lady Wolf.

“It is imperative that we empower women to seek clemency, expungement and record sealing through Clean Slate if they are eligible as these are the kinds of mechanisms that can truly give them a fresh start.”

Celeste Trusty, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons (BOP), was one of several panelists who discussed the matter with First Lady Wolf.

“A criminal conviction can impact opportunities for employment, housing, and education, and can even restrict parents from volunteering in their children’s activities,” said Secretary Trusty.

“Clemency is a critical process in Pennsylvania, providing life-changing second chances for our community members impacted by the legal system. Applying for clemency in the Commonwealth is free, and application materials are easily accessible to the public on the Board of Pardons website. Everyone deserves the opportunity for a second chance, and Pennsylvania is proud to have become a leader in clemency reform under the current administration.”

Another panelist was Naomi Blount-Wilson, Commutations Specialist at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. She discussed the definition of a pardon and how people can apply to them; applying for a pardon is free and the resources to do so are available online.

Blount-Wilson herself was sentenced to life in prison in 1983; she was commuted by Governor Wolf and released in 2019.

Taylor Pacheco, Deputy Executive Director at Philadelphia Lawyers of Social Equity (PLSE), also discussed these matters of clemency as a member of the panel.

“There is greater interest in criminal justice right now than any time in recent memory, and we must make sure that women are not left out of this vital conversation,” said Pacheco.

“When people are shackled by their criminal records, entire families suffer. Our commitment to reducing the collateral consequences of criminal records through the pardon process is one that has the potential to change the life outcomes of entire generations, and it is work that we can and must all do together as a statewide community.”

Katie Svoboda-Kindle, Senior Staff Attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), gave statistics on prison sentences and pardons in the state of Pennsylvania.

“Nearly 1 in 3 Americans has a criminal record, and even a minor record can cause lifelong barriers to opportunity,” says Katie Svoboda-Kindle.

“Clearing those records would allow access employment, housing and education, but 9 out of 10 people who are eligible for record clearing don’t get it done. Clean Slate solves this ‘second chance gap’ using technology that seals eligible records through an automated process.”

CLS has represented 10,000 in the past year who are looking for clemency after prison. The organization was founded in 1996 by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

The next 'Women in Reentry' roundtable is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 19.