President Barack Obama has ordered the release of 22 drug dealers – including eight who were serving life sentences.Nearly all of the offenders who Obama granted clemency to were convicted of dealing addictive, hard drugs like crack cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. Eight of those whose sentences were commuted – an act the White House said continues Obama’s push to make the justice system “fairer” – were serving terms of life in prison.
The effort is aimed at reducing harsh sentences for those who faced outdated guidelines at their time of sentencing and would be serving shorter punishments had they been convicted today.
Barack Obama has granted clemency to 22 drug offenders who were sentenced under outdated guidelines
Barack Obama has granted clemency to 22 drug offenders who were sentenced under outdated guidelines
In December, Mr Obama issued his first round of commutations under new guidelines that were put in place to cut costs by reducing the growing prison population and grant leniency to nonviolent drug offenders sentenced to years long terms of confinement away from society.
A commutation leaves the conviction in place and ends the punishment.
Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel, said many of...
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