President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 214 federal inmates, 67 of them serving life sentences — taking his total commutations granted to 562, 197 of which were life sentences. Many of those receiving clemency were serving time for nonviolent drug offenses.
According to the White House, the president has now commuted the sentences of more men and women than the past nine presidents combined.
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From Neil Eggleston, White House counsel to the president:
This news likely carries special weight to the 67 individuals serving life sentences – almost all for nonviolent drug crimes – who, up until today, could only imagine what it might be like to once again attend a loved one’s birthday party, walk their child to school, or simply go to the grocery store. All of the individuals receiving commutation today, incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws, embody the President’s belief that “America is a nation of second chances.”
Eggleston went on to note that Obama’s clemency process, while powerful, falls short of much-needed sentencing and overall criminal justice reform.
Read more about the president’s clemency initiative here.
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