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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama commutes sentences for 8 drug inmates under new policy (more to come?)
Obama commutes sentences for 8 drug inmates under new policy
Associated Press
By NEDRA PICKLER 22 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama on Wednesday cut short prison time for eight drug convicts as part of his new initiative to reduce harsh sentences under outdated guidelines, a step that could lead to a vast expansion of presidential clemency in his final two years in office.
The president also is pardoning 12 convicts for a variety of offenses. But the commutations are particularly significant because they are the first issued under new guidelines announced earlier this year designed to cut costs by reducing the nation's bulging prison population and grant leniency to nonviolent drug offenders sentenced to double-digit terms.
A pardon forgives a crime without erasing the conviction, typically after the sentence has been served. A commutation leaves the conviction and ends the punishment.
The White House said the eight new commutations Obama granted were for prisoners who likely would receive a substantially lower sentence today and would have already served their time. For example, they include Barbara Scrivner, who was sentenced to 30 years in 1995 when she was 27 years old for a minor role in her husband's meth ring. Obama ordered her sentence to expire June 12, while others will expire April 15.
Administration officials say they expect Obama to grant more clemency petitions in his final two years in office under the changed policy he ordered from the Justice Department. The White House said 6,561 people already have applied in the past year, compared to 2,370 the year before.
"I think there is an awareness out there that this president is interested in granting clemency on these kinds of matters," White House counsel Neil Eggleston said in an interview.
more...
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-commutes-sentences-8-drug-inmates-under-policy-203116883.html;_ylt=A0LEVjAs8pFUX9IAFZwPxQt.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)from voting, now we have to work on making sure ALL of them can vote.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)He is a political prisoner here in the USA.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)soon I do truly hope victim of bushco-rove evil.......
MADem
(135,425 posts)I think Seigelman's GOVERNOR has to issue that pardon.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)"Sign Dana Siegelman's
petition the President
TO PARDON
GOV. SIEGELMAN"
http://www.donsiegelman.org/
MADem
(135,425 posts)I haven't followed the case terribly closely. I do know a lot of legal scholars think that there was something fishy going on with his convictions and that there was a political focus by the prosecution.
I remember, way back when, when he was released on bail, that I thought his lawyer should have asked for an ankle bracelet and for his time to count towards any sentence (that would have taken a lot off the top). They didn't do that, though, so the clock started ticking anew when he went back in jail.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Don won the Governorship. Rove and his trolls found votes to give to the R candidate and he "won". When Don stared looking into this, surprise surprise, criminal charges were filed against him. He was prosecuted by roves best friends wife.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)It's the root of the whole problem of "outdated guidelines".
Please Obama, it's a freedom issue.
nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)is kind of his style.
chowder66
(9,068 posts)If anyone is interested they are painfully short on signatures for a petition;
"Grant Justice to LEONARD PELTIER by Executive Clemency & Sentence Commutation to Time Served 1976-2014."
http://wh.gov/iCtB0
or this link
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/grant-justice-leonard-peltier-executive-clemency-sentence-commutation-time-served-1976-2014/qmS1C5X5
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)babylonsister
(171,065 posts)I realize you take great joy in pointing out what you don't like about this President, but this thread is about doing the right thing for some other people. And Merry Christmas!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025972913#post54
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)There is no joy here, and you know better. This is a thread about the President commuting sentences. Gov Siegelman should be at the front of the line.
Maybe you forget that Pres Obama's DoJ has been very active in throwing drug users, including medical marijuana dispensers in prison until quite recently. I am glad he changed his mind, but I can't give him props.
Merry Christmas to you babylonsister. I enjoy our discussions.
MADem
(135,425 posts)red dog 1
(27,799 posts)I still want to know why in 2009 Obama's DOJ sent Solicitor General Elena Kagan to ask Siegelman's judge to INCREASE his prison sentence.
red dog 1
(27,799 posts)Good question!
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)red dog 1
(27,799 posts)I saw December 17 & forgot what year it was.
(My bad)
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Republicons and Democrats.
red dog 1
(27,799 posts)red dog 1
(27,799 posts)and found this one, and forgot what year it is.
I can't believe how dumb I am sometimes!
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Cha
(297,211 posts)under draconian laws. Thanks Obama!
Mahalo babylonsistah
mahannah
(893 posts)Hekate
(90,681 posts)Zorra
(27,670 posts)We might have lost fewer seats.
I don't get it.
polichick
(37,152 posts)Tarheel_Dem
(31,234 posts)babylonsister
(171,065 posts)back have you been looking? This was from a year ago!
Tarheel_Dem
(31,234 posts)Happy Holidays!
babylonsister
(171,065 posts)my friend!