President Obama’s 944 commutations: Why he’s releasing prisoners
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2016/1105/President-Obama-s-944-commutations-Why-he-s-releasing-prisoners
President Obama's commutations are part of an effort to reform the United States' criminal justice system, from mandatory minimum sentencing to re-entry programs for released prisoners.
By Christina Beck, Staff November 5, 2016
The White House announced on Friday that 72 inmates currently incarcerated in federal prisons will have their sentences commuted, as President Obama continues to work towards criminal justice reform during his last few months in office.
With Friday’s announcement, Mr. Obama has thus far commuted the sentences of nearly 1,000 inmates, more than any other president in US history.
Proponents of Obama’s commutations praise this as a small - but highly visible - part of this administrations efforts to address the overcrowded US prisons, mostly filled by minorities who got long sentences due to controversial mandatory minimum sentencing rules.
The White House announced on Friday that 72 inmates currently incarcerated in federal prisons will have their sentences commuted, as President Obama continues to work towards criminal justice reform during his last few months in office.
With Friday’s announcement, Mr. Obama has thus far commuted the sentences of nearly 1,000 inmates, more than any other president in US history.
Proponents of Obama’s commutations praise this as a small - but highly visible - part of this administrations efforts to address the overcrowded US prisons, mostly filled by minorities who got long sentences due to controversial mandatory minimum sentencing rules.
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“These grants represent 72 reunited families,” Cynthia W. Roseberry, project manager for Clemency Project 2014, told the Washington Post. “They also represent hope to others who have applied. We are grateful that President Obama is keeping his word to grant more clemency.”
The White House released a list of those granted more lenient sentences by Obama, many of whom were originally serving sentences that ranged from several decades to life, mostly for drug-related crimes.
The president has been especially proactive during his last year in office, commuting the majority of the 944 sentences in the past year. In the past eight days alone, the president has commuted 170 sentences.
“The President is committed to reinvigorating the clemency authority, demonstrating that our nation is a nation of second chances, where mistakes from the past will not deprive deserving individuals of the opportunity to rejoin society and contribute to their families and communities,” wrote White House counsel Neil Eggleston in a blog post.
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http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2016/1105/President-Obama-s-944-commutations-Why-he-s-releasing-prisoners
President Obama's commutations are part of an effort to reform the United States' criminal justice system, from mandatory minimum sentencing to re-entry programs for released prisoners.
By Christina Beck, Staff November 5, 2016
The White House announced on Friday that 72 inmates currently incarcerated in federal prisons will have their sentences commuted, as President Obama continues to work towards criminal justice reform during his last few months in office.
With Friday’s announcement, Mr. Obama has thus far commuted the sentences of nearly 1,000 inmates, more than any other president in US history.
Proponents of Obama’s commutations praise this as a small - but highly visible - part of this administrations efforts to address the overcrowded US prisons, mostly filled by minorities who got long sentences due to controversial mandatory minimum sentencing rules.
The White House announced on Friday that 72 inmates currently incarcerated in federal prisons will have their sentences commuted, as President Obama continues to work towards criminal justice reform during his last few months in office.
With Friday’s announcement, Mr. Obama has thus far commuted the sentences of nearly 1,000 inmates, more than any other president in US history.
Proponents of Obama’s commutations praise this as a small - but highly visible - part of this administrations efforts to address the overcrowded US prisons, mostly filled by minorities who got long sentences due to controversial mandatory minimum sentencing rules.
Recommended: Can you pass the written police officer exam?
“These grants represent 72 reunited families,” Cynthia W. Roseberry, project manager for Clemency Project 2014, told the Washington Post. “They also represent hope to others who have applied. We are grateful that President Obama is keeping his word to grant more clemency.”
The White House released a list of those granted more lenient sentences by Obama, many of whom were originally serving sentences that ranged from several decades to life, mostly for drug-related crimes.
The president has been especially proactive during his last year in office, commuting the majority of the 944 sentences in the past year. In the past eight days alone, the president has commuted 170 sentences.
“The President is committed to reinvigorating the clemency authority, demonstrating that our nation is a nation of second chances, where mistakes from the past will not deprive deserving individuals of the opportunity to rejoin society and contribute to their families and communities,” wrote White House counsel Neil Eggleston in a blog post.
More on link
