Obama Not Using His Presidential Powers to Alleviate Prison Sentences and be "Smart on Crime"

Only one person granted an early release by the president, and he has a lower clemency rate than any other modern president

This week, Attorney General Eric Holderspoke out against the impacts of "draconian" sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. "Too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason," said Holder.

But in unveiling the new "smart on crime" initiative, Holder skipped mention of the sweeping power the president has to shorten or forgive a federal prisoner's sentence.

President Obama has given just one personearly release from prison. As ProPublica has documented, Obama has overall granted clemency at a lower rate than any modern president, which includes both commutations – early release – and pardons. Last year, ProPublica reported that the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney rarely gives positive clemency recommendations to the president. Experts have been calling for reform of the entire clemency process.