By The Star Staff
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia announced on Monday that he granted 18 executive clemencies in 2024 after evaluating 197 requests.
That represents 9.13% of the requests. The clemencies included two full pardons, six conditional pardons, three commutations of the maximum sentence, six conditional commutations and one commutation of the minimum. Another 167 requests were denied and 11 archived.
Standing out among the full pardons was the case of a person who paid a minor fine for violating the Internal Revenue Code, and another of a person who, after an act of negligence that resulted in the death of his son, promoted a law in his memory to prevent similar tragedies. In both cases, their rehabilitation and contribution to society was recognized.
The maximum sentence commutations included a 76-year-old man with serious health conditions who served 38 years on parole after a conviction for first-degree murder. Another case included a 61-year-old inmate, who served 33 years in prison and six years of supervised release in the United States, standing out for his work, literary publications and good behavior.
Conditional commutations were granted to people with significant achievements in their rehabilitation. Among those was a 37-year-old man with a 141-year sentence, who obtained a bachelor’s degree, began a master’s degree and published several literary works. Also notable was a case where a convict with a 108-year sentence for murder and violation of the Weapons Law was granted 28 years in prison and exemplary adjustments on parole.
A commutation of the sentence to the minimum allowed a prisoner with a 106-year sentence for murder and carrying a weapon to undergo evaluation for parole. He served 15 years in prison, obtained a high school diploma with high honors and has the support of the academic community, in addition to maintaining impeccable conduct.
During his four-year term, Pierluisi evaluated 688 requests, granting a total of 77 clemencies.
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