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Commutations

Amber McLaughlin is scheduled to be executed in Missouri

Criminal Justice

Amber McLaughlin's Jury Deadlocked—So the Judge Decided She Should Be Executed

Today's scheduled execution is getting attention because she's trans. But the bigger story here is how she was sentenced to die.

Scott Shackford | 1.3.2023 12:30 PM

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown

Death Penalty

Oregon's Governor Commutes Sentences of All State Death Row Inmates

Brown: “The state should not be in the business of executing people.”

Scott Shackford | 12.14.2022 12:20 PM

Protesters noted that President Joe Biden's marijuana pardons did not free a single federal prisoner.

Marijuana

Biden's Marijuana Pardons Did Not Free a Single Federal Prisoner or Deliver the Expungement He Promised

A protest at the White House calls attention to the thousands of federal cannabis offenders who remain incarcerated.

Jacob Sullum | 10.24.2022 3:20 PM

Joe-Biden-4-25-22-Newscom

Criminal Justice

Biden Begins Using Clemency To Ameliorate the Damage Done by the Draconian Drug Policies He Long Supported

The 75 commutations announced today, while impressive compared to the pitiful records of previous presidents, pale beside a huge backlog of petitions.

Jacob Sullum | 4.26.2022 4:15 PM

polis_1161x653

Commutations

Colorado Gov. Polis Commutes 110-Year Sentence for Trucker in Deadly Crash, Pardons Hundreds of Marijuana Convictions

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos faced harsh punishment under the state’s mandatory minimum sentences for insisting on the right to a trial.

Scott Shackford | 12.31.2021 12:45 PM

Joe-Biden-12-13-21-Newscom

Clemency

Would an Independent Commission Solve the Clemency Backlog?

A new bill would transfer the review of petitions from the Justice Department to a presidentially appointed board.

Jacob Sullum | 12.15.2021 12:01 AM

BidenTurkey_1161x653

Pardons

Thousands Beg President Joe Biden for Mercy as He Pardons a Couple of Turkeys

The annual photo op takes on cruel undertones as drug offenders continue to suffer under harsh federal prison sentences.

Scott Shackford | 11.23.2021 1:45 PM

juliusjones_1161x653

Death Penalty

Oklahoma's Governor Commutes Julius Jones' Death Sentence, Halting Today's Scheduled Execution

In exchange, Jones shall “never again be eligible to apply for, be considered for, or receive any additional commutation, pardon, or parole.”

Scott Shackford | 11.18.2021 2:15 PM

Biden_1161x653

Clemency

Only Biden or Congress Can Prevent 4,000 Inmates From Being Forced Back Into Federal Prison Post-COVID

The CARES Act allowed home release of nonviolent inmates during the pandemic. But after it's over, many will have to go back unless their sentences are commuted.

Scott Shackford | 7.20.2021 11:25 AM

Joe-Biden-4-29-21-Newscom-cropped

Clemency

Biden Hedges on His Promise To Free Pot Prisoners

The president still has not caught up with most Americans on marijuana policy.

Jacob Sullum | 5.5.2021 12:01 AM

Jen-Psaki-4-23-21

Clemency

The Biden Administration's Obfuscation on Using Clemency To Free Pot Prisoners Is Not a Hopeful Sign

Press Secretary Jen Psaki repeatedly tried to muddy the issue by changing the subject to reclassifying marijuana.

Jacob Sullum | 4.26.2021 12:45 PM

TomWolf_1161x653

Coronavirus

A Pennsylvania Inmate Dies of COVID-19 While Awaiting Mercy from the Governor

The Board of Pardons recommended Bruce Norris’ release. A signature didn’t come in time.

Scott Shackford | 2.1.2021 1:45 PM

Trump-farewell-1-20-21

Clemency

Presidential Mercy Is a Woefully Inadequate Remedy for Injustice

The controversy over Trump’s pardons and commutations highlights longstanding problems with clemency.

Jacob Sullum | 1.27.2021 12:01 AM

Craig-Cesal-3

Clemency

Freeing People Who Don't Belong in Prison Is Praiseworthy, No Matter Trump's Motives

The president's final batch of clemency actions includes commutations for dozens of nonviolent drug offenders.

Jacob Sullum | 1.20.2021 1:00 AM

TrumpPardons_1161x653

Clemency

Trump's Latest Round of Pardons Includes George Papadopoulos, GOP Congressmen, Blackwater Guards

Full pardons were given to the four contractors convicted of murdering Iraqis in a firefight in Baghdad.

Scott Shackford | 12.22.2020 10:15 PM

brandonberanrd_1161x653

Death Penalty

No Mercy Came for Brandon Bernard and None Will Come Today for Alfred Bourgeois

Bill Barr and Donald Trump spend the end of their terms executing prisoners.

Scott Shackford | 12.11.2020 1:15 PM

TrumpCommute_1161x653

Commutations

Trump Grants Clemency to 5 More Federal Prisoners

All five cases were recommended to the White House by commutation recipient Alice Marie Johnson.

Scott Shackford | 10.22.2020 11:15 AM

warren_1161x653

Commutations

Elizabeth Warren Adopts Cory Booker's Plan for a Better Presidential Clemency System

Shifting the process from the Justice Department to the White House can help eliminate bureaucracy and meddling from prosecutors.

Scott Shackford | 2.27.2020 2:45 PM

Jimmy Meders

Death Penalty

Georgia Death Row Prisoner Jimmy Meders Has Sentence Commuted Hours Before Execution

The jury said they would have given Jimmy Meders life in prison without parole had it been available.

Zuri Davis | 1.16.2020 4:40 PM

Oklahoma Commutations

Criminal Justice

The Largest Single-Day Commutation in History

Oklahoma frees 527 low-level offenders—and saves nearly $12 million.

Zuri Davis | 11.4.2019 10:10 AM

blagojevich_1161x653

Commutations

Trump Mulls Commutation for Disgraced Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

While the president's mercy might be self-serving, it's not necessarily wrong.

Scott Shackford | 8.8.2019 3:55 PM

Large image on homepages

Obama Administration

Obama Finally Finds His Clemency Pen

Jacob Sullum | 3.21.2017 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages

Commutations

Obama Squeezes in One More Round of Commutations, Granting Mercy to 330 Federal Prisoners

Going out with a bang

Scott Shackford | 1.19.2017 3:40 PM

Large image on homepages

Clemency

Obama Surpasses Wilson's Commutation Record

The president has now shortened more sentences than any of his predecessors.

Jacob Sullum | 1.18.2017 8:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning Gets Obama's Mercy, Will Be Freed in May

Another round of commutations announced, but one will dominate the news.

Scott Shackford | 1.17.2017 4:45 PM

Large image on homepages

Drugs

Obama's Belated Drug War Retreat

Jacob Sullum | 1.14.2017 7:00 AM

Large image on homepages

Chelsea Manning

Obama Reportedly Considering Mercy for Chelsea Manning

Given the administration's treatment of whistleblowers, this would be a big deal.

Scott Shackford | 1.11.2017 11:15 AM

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