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babylonsister

(171,072 posts) Sat Dec 19, 2015, 10:24 AM Dec 2015

President Obama commutes sentences of 95 federal drug offenders

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/president-obama-commutes-sentences-of-about-100-drug-offenders/2015/12/18/9b62c91c-a5a3-11e5-9c4e-be37f66848bb_story.html

President Obama commutes sentences of 95 federal drug offenders
By Sari Horwitz
December 18 at 9:54 PM

President Obama commuted the sentences of 95 drug offenders Friday, more than double the number he granted this summer, in an effort to give relief to drug offenders who were harshly sentenced in the nation’s war on drugs.

It is the third time this year that the president has used his unique clemency power to release federal drug offenders, whose harsh sentences have contributed to the phenomenon of mass incarceration.

The commutations are a centerpiece of the president’s effort to make the most significant changes in the nation’s criminal justice system in decades. He and former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. have spoken passionately about the need to fix what they say is a broken system — one they argue has subjected too many nonviolent inmates to decades behind bars, disproportionately hurting minority communities.

“I commuted the sentences of 95 men and women who had served their debt to society, another step forward in upholding our ideals of justice and fairness,” Obama said.

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President Obama commutes sentences of 95 federal drug offenders (Original Post) babylonsister Dec 2015 OP

And Don Siegelman rots in prison--in solitary confinement recently, no less n/t zazen Dec 2015 #1

He wasn't put there due to the Drug War. MH1 Dec 2015 #2

And just maybe Pres. Obama looked at his case and the evidenceq GGJohn Dec 2015 #3

zazen

(2,978 posts)

1. And Don Siegelman rots in prison--in solitary confinement recently, no less n/t

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 10:33 AM

Dec 2015

MH1

(17,600 posts)

2. He wasn't put there due to the Drug War.

Reply to zazen (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 10:43 AM

Dec 2015

It may be incredibly unjust, but the current commutations are all related to the overwhelming injustice of the Drug War, which has impacted MANY of society's most or more vulnerable.

I can imagine that the new 95, as well as the ones earlier, were identified by Obama telling appropriate staff "go find the no-brainer commutations I can do, that no one will challenge". That's not a bad thing, it's a good strategy to get people used to the idea that there are a whole bunch of people rotting in jail that shouldn't be there. One might think it's chicken to start with the no-brainers but this lets him have the most impact on the most lives before someone starts screaming that we shouldn't be releasing these people.

Siegelman is a completely different case that requires a different approach. Not saying it shouldn't happen, but he is one man, and from a utilitarian view - and possibly a fairness view if you look at all the details - the resources to accomplish these releases are better spent where they can affect hundreds who were unjustly treated, rather than just the one.

GGJohn

(9,951 posts)

3. And just maybe Pres. Obama looked at his case and the evidenceq

Reply to zazen (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 19, 2015, 10:51 AM

Dec 2015

and decided he really does belong in prison.

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