Princeton Students Win Freedom for 12 Through Clemency Work

Imagine spending months helping someone tell their life story, only to learn that story just earned them freedom. That's exactly what happened when Princeton students volunteered with the Clemency Project and helped 12 people win clemency from New Jersey's governor.

The project launched in spring 2025 under the direction of Joe Krakora, a former public defender now teaching at Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs. About 50 students, mostly undergraduates, jumped at the chance to help people who had served their time and deserved a second look.

The work was detailed and deeply human. Students interviewed petitioners, combed through court records, and helped craft compelling applications for executive clemency. Of the 32 petitions they prepared, then-Governor Phil Murphy granted 12 by the time he left office in January 2026.

Julia Heinzel, a graduate student, represented a client who had rejected a plea deal for 25 to 30 years, only to be convicted at trial and sentenced to more than 50 years. Thanks partly to her work, Governor Murphy commuted his sentence. She's now heading to law school in the fall, inspired by the experience.

For many students, the project shattered preconceptions. Vaishnavi Murthy came to Princeton already interested in criminal justice, but meeting people in prison changed everything. The classroom discussions about policy suddenly had faces and names attached.

"These were real people in prison," Krakora said. "For Princeton students to interact with people who've been convicted and see that they're just people like the rest of us who may have made some pretty bad mistakes in their life, there's a humanity involved."

The Ripple Effect

The success sparked something bigger. Last September, more than 60 students signed up for the Second Chance Project, helping two new groups of clients. Some had been on the sex offender registry for over 15 years without violations. Others were parolees who had gone at least seven years without any offense.

The students filed 16 motions to remove people from the registry, with eight already granted. They also filed 18 applications for early discharge from parole, with six approved so far. Several more remain under review.

Emily Ganter discovered the real impact of harsh sentencing policies through the project. Jillian Ascher, who worked on both initiatives, helped two clients obtain clemency and learned about challenges she'd never considered, like anxiety around parole officers and last-minute travel restrictions.

Even clients who didn't receive clemency expressed gratitude for the students' efforts. Someone believed their story was worth telling, worth fighting for, and that matters more than many realize.

The program shows how education and service can work together to create real change, one carefully prepared petition at a time.