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June 3, 2016

Prez Obama commutes 42 more federal prison sentences

Chart_060316_commutations[1]As reported in this AP piece, this afternoon "President Barack Obama is commuting the sentences of 42 people convicted of drug-related offenses." Here is more:

Obama's latest round of clemency brings to 348 the total number of sentences Obama has commuted since taking office. The pace has increased substantially as Obama approaches the end of his presidency. Roughly half of the 42 receiving commutations Friday were serving life sentences. Most are nonviolent offenders, although a few were also charged with firearms violations.

Obama's commutation shortens their sentences, with most of the inmates set to be released October 1.

White House counsel Neil Eggleston says Obama will keep using his clemency power to give deserving individuals a second chance. Obama has pushed to overhaul the criminal justice system but a bipartisan effort has struggled to maintain momentum.

Via this blog post (which provides the graphic reprinted here), Prez Obama's counsel notes that that "President Obama Has Now Commuted the Sentences of 348 Individuals" and highlights that now "the President has commuted the sentences of more individuals than the past 7 presidents combined." Here is more from the blog posting:

Today, the President announced 42 additional grants of clemency to men and women serving years in prison under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws. The individuals receiving a presidential commutation today have more than repaid their debt to society and earned this second chance.

To date, the President has commuted the sentences of 348 individuals -- more than the previous seven Presidents combined. He remains committed to using his clemency power throughout the remainder of the Administration to give more deserving individuals that same second chance....

Despite these important efforts, only legislation can bring about lasting change to the federal system. There remain thousands of men and women in federal prison serving sentences longer than necessary, often due to overly harsh mandatory minimum sentences. That is one reason it is critical that both the House and the Senate continue to cooperate on a bipartisan basis to get a criminal justice reform bill to the President's desk.

June 3, 2016 at 04:20 PM | Permalink

Comments

Keep going, Mr. President!!

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Jun 3, 2016 4:31:06 PM

Former prisoner.

The claim that Obama has used clemency power more than previous 7 Presidents combined is only true if you ignore
the 14,000+ people who got relief (commutations and pardons) under President Ford's draft clemency board.
It is well documented and a great example for Obama to have emulated:
http://fusion.net/story/298158/obama-clemency-board-gerald-ford/

It would also be great if he granted clemency to people with 'violent'cases and not just non-violent drug offense.

Posted by: Daniel | Jun 3, 2016 4:57:19 PM

Mr. President

I just read where you commuted the sentences of 42 more non-violent criminals, bringing the total to 348. I commend and admire your compassion to give these people a second chance at life.

However, as I have contacted you on several occasions, I must question why you ignore and refuse to do the same for the estimated 100,000 innocent Americans who have been wrongfully incarcerated in this country? We know they exist. Do they not deserve the same time and money to vette their situation as you have spent on the non-violent criminals?

I just don't understand how or why you ignore this issue .. as has our entire judicial system for so many years.

All the talk, discussions and actions taken to reform the criminal justice system .. and not one word mentioned .. not one action taken to do anything for the innocent Americans we know that are wrongfully incarcerated in this country. Why?

Sir, if there is money available to vette, non-violent criminals for consideration of having their sentences commuted .. can't you do the same for the innocent who we know are wrongfully incarcerated? I just don't understand this.

For anyone who files a false claim .. they will be charged with perjury and obstruction of justice and lose all benefits they haved earned while incarcerated .. and forced to pay for any cost caused .. to deter false claims.

Sir, if you have compassion enough for the non-violent criminals .. can't you show the same for the innocent?

https://www.change.org/p/doj-create-a-federal-commission-on-wrongful-convictions

Posted by: Steve Gilmore | Jun 4, 2016 1:01:12 PM

just wondering how 1 person of a 2 person indictment can get clemency and the other does not when they both were involved equally. The female got it, the male didn't.

Posted by: curious reader | Jun 6, 2016 4:12:38 PM

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