Obama's Biggest Commutation Announcement Yet Will Help More than 200 Imprisoned in Drug War
Justice Department still expects more before presidency ends.
Justice Department still expects more before presidency ends.
The slowness and disorganization of the clemency process put in place has stranded many of the prisoners and families it was supposed to help.
The young father of three got 55 years for three small-time pot sales.
Total for administration reaches 348, but hundreds more may still qualify.
Only 4 percent of cases reviewed by volunteer lawyers have made the cut so far.
Nixon's commutation rate was more than four times as high.
The deadline is rapidly approaching for federal prisoners to request mercy.
Obama has granted about 1 percent of commutation petitions, compared to Nixon's 7 percent.
A big backlog of prisoners seeking shorter sentences has gotten a lot bigger.
If Obama means what he says about unjust punishment, he will free Weldon Angelos.
Obama's commutation record looks good in absolute numbers but paltry as a percentage of petitions.
After 21 years behind bars, a nonviolent drug offender gets parole.
He emphasizes the importance of making shorter sentences retroactive.
According to John Walters, all drug offenders are violent.
The president can do much more to correct unjust sentences, but time is running out.
The president joins the Kentucky senator in calling for sentencing reform.
This is a promising and positive step in the right direction, but real reform is still needed.
If correcting clear injustices is the aim, Obama can do a lot more.
After 21 years in prison, Jeff Mizanskey is eligible for parole.
Stepping up his commutations, the president begins to make up for lost time.
The president shortens 22 sentences, doubling his total in a single day.
The affected prisoners include a marijuana grower sentenced to life.
Despite belated pardons and a few more commutations, the president's mercy is rarely seen.
The president has begun to deliver on promises of a more rational, less punitive approach to psychoactive substances.
All of them. You're welcome
Three months ahead of scheduled release, which counts as mercy for Russia
Only one person granted an early release by the president, and he has a lower clemency rate than any other modern president
65 selected for Easter clemency have been out of prison and living clean for years