TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that she granted clemency to seven individuals by commuting the sentences of two incarcerated individuals and granting pardons to five individuals, all of whom show strong signs of rehabilitation, according to a statement from the governor's office.
The decision to grant the commutations and pardons was made following independent reviews by the Prison Review Board, the Kansas Department of Administration, and the Governor’s legal team.
“Granting commutations and pardons is not something I take lightly,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By vetting numerous applications through a careful and thorough process, it was determined that these individuals have demonstrated their commitment to making amends and positively contributing to society. In cases where a disproportionally harsh sentence is imposed or a miscarriage of justice exists, commutation can be a tool to ensure reasonable action and a fairer sentence. In extraordinary cases where the criminal justice system failed to account for mitigating factors surrounding an individual’s alleged crime throughout the legal process, including sentencing, commutations can give a second chance to individuals experiencing incomprehensible circumstances at the time of their offense.”
Governor Kelly took into consideration numerous factors to determine if the commutations and pardons were warranted, including but not limited to: the nature of the offense, harsh sentences, impact of the crime on victims or survivors, demonstration of rehabilitation, criminal history, absence of disciplinary issues in prison, positive achievements and growth while incarcerated, and the ability to contribute to society following release.
Article 1, Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution and K.S.A. § 22-3701 grants the Governor’s authority to grant clemency. Below, please find the list of individuals receiving commutations and pardons:
Jose Arellano, pardon
Deshaun Durham, commutation
Stephen Gontz, pardon
Jeffrey Gronewaller, pardon
Lauren Holle, commutation
James Valentine, pardon
Scottie Way, pardon
Review of clemency applications by the Governor is ongoing, and there is no set timeline for review. By law, clemency applications in Kansas must be submitted to the Prisoner Review Board and notice of an individual’s application for clemency must be published in the county newspaper where the crime was committed. The Board reviews all applications before forwarding them for further review. Additional information about the process can be found at the Board’s website: https://www.doc.ks.gov/prb