Seattle Clemency Project

Mission

Seattle Clemency Project's (SCP) mission is to increase access to justice for reformed individuals serving sentences that no longer serve a purpose and to prevent deportations that fracture our communities. We do this by matching them with free, high-quality legal representation, afterward providing holistic reentry and transition support to promote their long-term success.

Description

Seattle Clemency Project (SCP) is the only nonprofit in Washington State that provides free legal representation to individuals seeking early release from prison or to prevent deportation due to decades old convictions for review processes where the individual does not have the right to a free lawyer. Since our founding in 2016, we've been contacted by more than 900 potential clients seeking help; secured freedom for 92 individuals, resulting in a reduction of more than 1200 years they would have spent in prison; and prevented deportation in 20 cases. We've generated more than $11M in pro bono legal services and saved Washington State taxpayers more than $44M that would have been spent on incarceration.

PROBLEMS ADDRESSED:
In Washington State, actions taken over the past 35 years have greatly increased the need for clemency. Since Washington abolished parole in 1984, the prison population has approximately doubled. A significant portion of Washington's prison population are serving life or long sentences and have no path to early release or even review based upon their rehabilitation. Many clients were convicted of crimes between the ages of 16-23 and were given no leniency despite their age. Yet many of these individuals have made profound transformations in their lives. Without parole, clemency is the state's only recourse for disproportionately harsh sentences. For many immigrants, old criminal convictions are used to impact their immigration status and a pardon can provide the post-conviction relief they need to restore their lawful status and remain in the country with their family. Without assistance of a free lawyer, however, getting a pardon is unlikely.

The cost to hire a lawyer to advocate for early release through clemency or to seek a pardon to prevent deportation is about $40,000. That is of reach for most people who need relief. This lack of access to representation compounds the racial, economic and other inequalities inherent in our criminal justice system.

WORK PERFORMED:
SCP currently utilizes more than 255 pro bono lawyers from 37 leading law firms and corporations; 30 volunteers, including student interns; and a diverse board of directors. We vet every individual who appeals for help, match qualified candidates with pro bono attorneys, chart a path to rehabilitation for those not yet ready for clemency, and file clemency or pardon petitions for selected candidates. For our pardon clients, we coordinate with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and, once a pardon is granted, hand the case over to them to work it through the immigration courts until conclusion.

All of our incarcerated clients work with their attorneys to create comprehensive reentry plans to ensure a successful return to life outside prison. Once they are released from prisons, our clients are enrolled in SCP's Reentry and Mentoring Program which provides ongoing legal, financial, logistical and emotional support.

With your help, we can supply more people who have an urgent need for free legal services with a volunteer lawyer. Thank you for considering our organization.

Recognition

We wish to thank our supporters, including Pitch Your Peers Seattle, Legal Foundation of Washington, Moccasin Lake Foundation, Seattle Foundation, Norcliffe Foundation, Vitalogy Foundation, Pivotal Ventures, Seahawks Players Equality & Justice For All Action Fund, Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, T-Mobile, BNBuilders, Perkins Coie, Foster Garvey, Davis Wright Tremaine, K&L Gates, DLA Piper, Stoel Rives, Pacifica Law Group, Karr Tuttle Campbell, Seyfarth Shaw, Goalen Group, Lucky Seven Foundation and numerous individual donors. Thank you for your support!

We are honored to have on our board the following individuals, who bring a depth of experience in the legal profession, government, advocacy, and the private sector, as well as lived experience.

Paul Heer

Neeka Hodaie

Joshua Howard

Janet Jones Preston

Tom Kelly

Richard Monroe

Mark Perry

Lana Shamdeen

Jennifer Smith

Rayshaun Williams

Leticia Walker

Kenny Wyatt

Last, but certainly not least, we'd like to thank our incredible pro-bono attorneys. None of this would be possible without you!