Gov. Hochul grants clemency to 16 New Yorkers, advocates urge continued action

December 26, 2023 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that she granted clemency to 16 individuals.Courtesy of the Office of the Governor via AP

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at the state Capitol, Feb. 1, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. On Saturday, Dec. 23, New York's governor vetoed a bill that would have banned noncompete agreements, which restrict workers' ability to leave their job for a role with a rival business.
Photo: Hans Pennink/AP

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Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that she has granted clemency to 16 individuals, including 12 pardons and four commutations. With these grants, Governor Hochul has now extended clemency to 36 individuals in 2023 alone, surpassing any previous year in her term.

“Through the clemency process, it is my solemn responsibility as governor to recognize the efforts individuals have made to improve their lives and show that redemption is possible,” Gov. Hochul said. “When I took office, I committed to improving this process and dedicated the resources needed to grant clemency on a rolling basis. My administration will continue working to ensure this process serves New Yorkers in the best way possible.”

This series of clemencies follows Governor Hochul’s commitment to reforming the clemency process. This includes convening an advisory panel of impartial experts, allocating additional staff resources for application reviews and enhancing communication with applicants. The Governor’s Office has also improved the clemency application process by implementing a new policy for regular updates to applicants and launching an updated online hub for application assistance.

Stanley Bellamy, a recipient of executive clemency from Governor Hochul and the NYC Community Organizer for the Release of Aging People in Prison Campaign (RAPP), expressed his gratitude and emphasized the life-changing impact of clemency.

“As a recipient of executive clemency from Gov. Kathy Hochul, I know first-hand the awesome power of mercy she holds in her pen,” Bellamy said.

“I went to prison for making a terrible decision that resulted in the loss of a life,” Bellamy added. “Throughout my prison term, I worked tirelessly to repair the harm I caused. Many currently incarcerated individuals share similar circumstances. I sincerely hope the governor grants them a second chance, just as she did for me.”

Bellamy called on the governor to expand the scope of her clemency grants to include more diverse and deserving candidates.

Gov. Hochul’s action has been met with appreciation from various advocacy groups, which see it as a crucial step towards addressing systemic injustices in the criminal justice system. However, they also urge the governor to continue her efforts in granting clemency, with nearly 1,600 pending applications still awaiting her decision.