Here’s a good reminder that when you fight for change, it can indeed become a reality. On Wednesday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced that she had granted clemency to seven individuals, including a man from Manhattan who was serving a prison sentence for a drug-related charge.
Deshaun Durham had been serving a sentence of 92 months, which amounts to over seven years, for possession with intent to distribute 2.4 pounds of marijuana. Typically first-time offenders like Durham receive probation for such offenses as cannabis remains illegal in Kansas. However, his consequese was far worse, making his sentencing quite unusual. Durham ultimately received his prison sentence in June 2021 and had spent the last three years at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility.
Donte West, a criminal justice advocate who was exonerated in 2021 after spending three years and eight months incarcerated for possession of a pound of marijuana with intent to distribute, has committed himself to helping others in similar circumstances. Upon learning about Durham’s situation, Donte, who began collaborating with the Last Prisoner Project to assist other incarcerated cannabis offenders, embarked on a quest for justice.
Thanks to the support of advocates, including West, justice ultimately prevailed as Durham was officially granted clemency on November 6th.
The governor’s office released a statement indicating that due to the “support of the community in which he plans to reenter and be a productive member of society, and his lack of prior criminal history, [Durham] has paid his debt to society and has shown that continued incarceration no longer serves the interests of justice and is therefore, no longer appropriate.”
“I hereby commute the sentence of DeShaun Durham as to the aforesaid conviction to time served as of Friday, December 6, 2024, with a post-release supervision term of 36 months,” stated Laura Kelly.