#FreeThemNY

We call on Governor Cuomo to immediately use his clemency powers to free criminalized survivors of gender violence held in prisons in New York.

the Survived and Punished national logo: a fist with a handcuff around the wrist and chains reaching above the fist to a a piece of cloth, with the words Survived and Punished.

End the criminalization of survivors of domestic and sexual violence!

Read survivors' stories!

Read the S&P NY Clemency and Parole Guide!

Upcoming Events

Contact Governor Cuomo

Send an email to tell Governor Cuomo: Grant Clemency for ALL Criminalized Survivors

Participate in the call-in campaign to Cuomo's office

What is our call to action?

We’re asking Governor Cuomo and his administration to use his unlimited power to grant clemency and grant commutations to criminalized survivors of Domestic Violence currently incarcerated throughout the New York State Prison System.

What is a phone zap?

Call-in campaigns, also known as “phone zaps,” are one of many tools to directly let public officials and others know what you want them to do or to stop doing.

Who are we targeting?

You can access a sample script here.

Background

Throughout his time in office, Governor Cuomo has granted pardons to just 163 people, and commuted the sentences of only a dozen people.

A graph displaying the numbers of petitions for clemency received versus commutations granted from 2011-2017. There are over a hundred applications in each year from 2011-2015. Zero commutations were issued from 2011-2014. In 2015 and 2016, a very small number were granted. Data for clemency applications was not available in 2016 and 2017. A graph displaying the numbers of petitions for pardon received versus pardons granted from 2011-2017. There are nearly 500 in 2011 with none granted, and over 100 in 2012 with none granted. From 2013-2015 there are between 50 and 100 petitions with very small numbers granted. 50-100 pardons were granted in each of 2016 and 2017. Data on petitions received in 2016 and 2017 was not available.

These numbers are pitifully low compared to the more than 50,000 people held in prisons across New York State.

The New York State Constitution grants the governor power to pardon or commute any sentence, at any time, for any reason. Our campaign calls on Governor Cuomo to use the powers of his office to immediately free criminalized survivors of gender violence!

On December 5th, members of Survived and Punished NY delivered a petition with thousands of signatures to Governor Cuomo's office, demanding that use his unlimited clemency powers to immediately free incarcerated survivors of gender violence.

an image of nine activists holding posters of representing incarcerated survivors of gender violence, and Cuomo's face as he is responsible for not freeing them.

The words of the only survivor whose sentence Cuomo has commuted

See the list of endorsing organizations!

Take Action!

Contact Governor Cuomo

Send an email to tell Governor Cuomo: Grant Clemency for ALL Criminalized Survivors

Find out how you can support the postcard campaign to send Cuomo 10,000 postcards in support of clemency.

A picture of a large amount of survived and punished postcards in support of our campaign. Each postcard has art on the front including a person holding a sign saying: mamas don't belong in cages. One postcard is turned over to its back, with writing on it addressed to Governor Cuomo urging him to free survivors.

Or, other ways you can support!

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