President Obama grants commutations to eight people currently serving time for non-violent drug offenses! These eight individuals will be allowed to leave prison ahead of schedule next year, making them the first people to earn reduced sentences through a new clemency initiative announced by the Obama administration earlier this year aimed at reducing harsh sentences for non-violent crimes. The eight people granted commutations by President Obama on Wednesday included four who had received life sentences for non-violent drug offenses and were set to die in federal prison. In April, the U.S. Justice Department laid out new guidelines that allow re-examination of prison terms meted out to people who have served at least 10 years of their prison term, were convicted of non-violent offenses, and were sentenced under laws that have since changed. New laws and guidelines in recent years have reduced differences in penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses, giving judges more latitude is imposing sentences and offering prosecutors more discretion in applying tools that would impose mandatory minimum sentences. The changes have meant that many people are currently serving harsher sentences then they would have received if sentenced today for the same crimes. Deputy Attorney General James Cole said in a statement that the eight people granted clemency on Wednesday were sentenced under outdated and unfair laws and that all of them met the criteria of the clemency initiative that was announced back in April. The program aims to decrease lengthy sentences for non-violent drug offenders and shrink the countrys surging prison population. While all eight were properly held accountable for their criminal actions, their punishments did not fit their crimes, Deputy Attorney General James Cole said. Obama has taken heat for not making full use of his clemency and pardoning powers, and the Justice Departments Office of the Pardon Attorney has similarly been criticized for the way it has handled cases. Obama has now commuted the sentences of 18 people, which a White House official noted was more than either President Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush commuted during their administrations.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 12:15:02 +0000
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