Obama plans clemency for hundreds (perhaps thousands) of (non-violent) drug offenders
Last edited Mon Apr 21, 2014, 04:55 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Yahoo News
Thousands and thousands of people like Scrivner are serving punishingly long sentences in federal prison based on draconian policies that were a relic of the "tough on crime" antidrug laws of the '80s and '90s. Thirty years after skyrocketing urban violence and drug use sparked politicians to impose longer and longer sentences for drug crimes, America now incarcerates a higher rate of its population than any other country in the world. This dubious record has finally provoked a bipartisan backlash against such stiff penalties. The old laws are slowly being repealed.
Now, in his final years in office, Obama has trained his sights on prisoners like Scrivner, and wants to use his previously dormant pardon power as part of a larger strategy to restore fairness to the criminal-justice system. A senior administration official tells Yahoo News the president could grant clemency to "hundreds, perhaps thousands" of people locked up for nonviolent drug crimes by the time he leaves office a stunning number that hasn't been seen since Gerald Ford extended amnesty to Vietnam draft dodgers in the 1970s.
The scope of the new clemency initiative is so large that administration officials are preparing a series of personnel and process changes to help them manage the influx of petitions they expect Obama to approve. Among the changes is reforming the recently censured office within the Justice Department responsible for processing pardon petitions. Yahoo News has learned that the pardon attorney, Ronald Rodgers, who was criticized in a 2012 Internal watchdog report for mishandling a high-profile clemency petition, is likely to step down as part of that overhaul. Additional procedures for handling large numbers of clemency petitions could be announced as soon as this week, a senior administration official said, though it could take longer.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-plans-clemency-for-hundreds-of-drug-offenders--162714911.html
UPDATE:
Justice Department Expands Clemency for Drug Offenders
Todd Ruger, Legal Times
April 21, 2014
"The White House has indicated it wants to consider additional clemency applications, to restore a degree of justice, fairness and proportionality for deserving individuals who do not pose a threat to public safety," Holder said in a video message. "The Justice Department is committed to recommending as many qualified applicants as possible for reduced sentences."
Holder's statement did not detail which prisoners might benefit from the changes. But he referenced the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010, which reduced the sentencing difference between crack and powder cocaine. The law did not apply to drug offenders sentenced before the law took effect.
"But there are still too many people in federal prison who were sentenced under the old regimeand who, as a result, will have to spend far more time in prison than they would if sentenced today for exactly the same crime," Holder said. "This is simply not right."
Deputy Attorney General James Cole is expected to announce more details on expanded criteria for clemency later this week.
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http://www.nationallawjournal.com/legaltimes/home/id=1202651906701/Justice%20Department%20Expands%20Clemency%20for%20Drug%20Offenders?mcode=1202615034968&curindex=0&back=NLJ&slreturn=20140321165222
wercal
(1,370 posts)But I could see other democrats opposed to it.
Statistically, at least one of these prisoners, once released, will go on to commit another crime...and that event will be used in political commercials for years to come.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Cartoonist
(7,319 posts)A white man stands in front of a picture of Obama with a Hitler mustache. He's outraged. He can't believe the President has pardoned non-violent perpetrators of victimless crimes so that they can go out and commit more non-violent, victimless crimes.
wercal
(1,370 posts)If the plan is to release thousands....well the GOP will already start working on the campaign commercial.
Somewhere, somehow, at least one of these people will commit a violent crime. And Willie Horton 2.0 is born.
That's why I think its a courageous decision.
AleksS
(1,665 posts)Unfortunately, you're probably right. It's just a matter of statistics. And filthy no-holds-barred GOP lie-style campaigning.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Reich wing media will run with it. Authoritarian masses will miss the whole point. Internet liberals will try to spread memes explaining more realistic effects. ...
Very brave of PBO....wow, doing the ethical thing is a remarkable act in 21st century America. And the "godly" jerk offs will be rattling their automatic weapons over it....
The prison industrial complex will be pissed but so what. People serving long sentences for non violent drug offenses should get out. They never should have been in prison in the first place.
Stuart G
(38,436 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)kenichol
(252 posts)How many are locked in state, private or not, prisons for what they put in their bodies, often when they wanted treatment, especially long-term treatment?
IronLionZion
(45,465 posts)one state at a time apparently.
tridim
(45,358 posts)Because it would be super-ironic if the prison industrial complex locked up another dozen non-violent drug offenders on the same day Obama grants clemency to thousands.
Decrim across the board and full federal legalization of Cannabis would be the obvious move.
maindawg
(1,151 posts)So I expect him to end prohibition or at least reclassify Cannabis first
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)such action. The more the better. I hope this happens.
damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)Non violent offenders don't belong in prison in the first place. Prison is a fool proof way to turn a non violent person into a violent person.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)when he was ready to leave office -- I was disappointed, but not entirely surprised.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)and make it soon.
Make it so.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Light speed in government time.
Keep asking and pushing them.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)And by Democrats.
Win, win, win, win, win.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Tell that to those who will have their lives ruined in the meantime.
tridim
(45,358 posts)You are trashing Obama for doing exactly what you're complaining about.
Sorry, you must be one of those extreme pessimists. Good luck with that in life.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)I do not think Obama started the war on drugs. I DO HOWEVER THINK that it is a token solution to a MUCH bigger problem he can and STILL REFUSES to address.
He can right now if he wanted cut all funding for the war on drugs. RIGHT NOW. He won't. Meanwhile, good people are still going to jail, good people are still dying, and this is a victory?
bvar22
(39,909 posts)...but he hasn't been shy about continuing and increasing it.
Again, at this stage, these are just words from the White House.
We have all heard lots of "words" from this administration.
You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their promises or excuses.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)bleedinglib
(212 posts)I worked in the building trades as a carpenter for 45 years. Consequently I damaged every joint in my body
& am now living on pain meds. These damn pills I take are killing me slowly but if I don't take them I'm in bad pain & can't function!!
I know there are thousands of people like me in this country. I'm hoping Obama will de-criminalize
marijuana on the federal level & make it easier for my state too legalize?
Moving too Colorado is not an option for me, although lots of people are doing this.
There's a man here in Missouri serving life without parole for 3 victimless drug offenses!!
Response to kpete (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Steerpike
(2,692 posts)It is a courageous thing and the right thing to do!
empire we are
(98 posts)"cough, cough, bullshit, cough"
kpete
(71,997 posts)check out the update above
survey says
peace
kp
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Dragonfli
(10,622 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)Len Bias the death that ushered in two decades of destruction
K&R