Advocates rallied outside of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office in Manhattan on Monday, calling for clemency for incarcerated women ahead of the holidays.  

The Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) campaign says that there is added pressure on families during the holiday season when thinking about their loved ones.  

Jose Di Lenola, clemency campaign director for the RAPP campaign, says that they’re calling for the women who they believe are innocent, facing deportation or serving death by incarceration sentences to be granted clemency by the governor.  

Formerly incarcerated person Vanessa Santiago knows how being released can impact people who served extended time in jail.  

“I got my masters’, I’m doing my doctorate now, so people like that are on the inside… can be beneficial for people outside instead of letting them stay in there and rotting in there for nothing,” said Santiago.  

Members of the RAPP campaign say getting incarcerated loved ones home for the holidays is important, and that the governor should grant clemency at any time of year.  

News 12 has reached out to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office for a statement and is awaiting a response.