At the moment, 273 people realized that the President has given them a second probability. With as we speak’s 209 grants of commutation, the President has now commuted the sentences of 1,385 people – essentially the most grants of commutation issued by any President on this nation’s historical past. President Obama’s 1,385 commutation grants – which incorporates 504 life sentences – can be greater than the overall variety of commutations issued by the previous 12 presidents mixed. And with as we speak’s 64 pardons, the President has now granted a complete of 212 pardons.
At the moment, 209 commutation recipients – together with 109 people who had believed they might dwell out their remaining days in jail – realized that they are going to be rejoining their households and family members, and 64 pardon recipients realized that their previous convictions have been forgiven. These 273 people realized that our nation is a forgiving nation, the place laborious work and a dedication to rehabilitation can result in a second probability, and the place wrongs from the previous is not going to deprive a person of the chance to maneuver ahead. At the moment, 273 people – like President Obama’s 1,324 clemency recipients earlier than them – realized that our President has discovered them deserving of a second probability.
Whereas the mercy the President has proven his 1,597 clemency recipients is exceptional, we should do not forget that clemency is a unprecedented treatment, granted solely after the President has concluded {that a} specific particular person has demonstrated a readiness to utilize his or her second probability. Solely Congress can obtain the broader reforms wanted to make sure over the long term that our legal justice system operates extra pretty and successfully within the service of public security.
Neil Eggleston is Counsel to the President.