Amy Povah
CAN-DO Clemency
For the past nineteen years, Amy Ralston Povah has been an accomplished filmmaker, writer, speaker, and activist. Her efforts have focused primarily on issues related to executive clemency, criminal justice reform, conspiracy laws, women in prison, and the drug war.
Amy served 9 years of a 24-year sentence for “conspiracy” in an MDMA (Ecstasy) case. Oscar nominated journalist David France researched and featured Amy’s case in Glamour Magazine, which led to more media exposure on Court TV and other news outlets that ignited public outcry for a sentence commutation, which President Clinton granted on July 7, 2000.
Post-incarceration, Amy launched the CAN-DO Foundation, which obtained its 501(c)(3) status in 2004. CAN-DO educates the public about the conspiracy law and advocates “justice through clemency” for victims of conspiracy and draconian sentencing laws. She participated in President Obama’s Clemency Project 2014, and organized White House vigils for the prisoners profiled on the CAN-DO website. She has been featured in numerous documentaries, including the award winning, Incarcerating US.
Amy has spoken on panels at Yale University, Pepperdine University, Vanderbilt University, Washington State University, New York University, Columbus School of Law, Georgetown University, on Capitol Hill, The George Washington University school of law and University of St. Thomas. She has also authored Op Eds for news sources including the New York Times, Fusion, HuffPost, San Francisco Chronicle, The Hill, Business Insider and has been interviewed and/or quoted by almost every major media source in the nation and she works with the media to garner exposure for the individuals seeking “justice through clemency” on the CAN-DO website.
In 2010, Amy formed a film production company and became President of Harm Reduction Productions. She produced the award winning documentary entitled “420 – The Documentary.” The film focuses on the nation’s historical “reefer madness” views regarding cannabis and the progress made to shatter the horrible lies and propaganda that has misled the public
