Obama set to commute dozens of nonviolent drug sentences, aides say

Aides say President Barack Obama is set to commute the sentences of dozens of nonviolent federal drug offenders in the coming weeks, according to a report on Friday in The New York Times.

The president’s expected move is in line with his administration’s efforts to undo what it sees as the unfair sentencing practices imposed by “tough on crime” policies, which frequently mandated harsh prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, disproportionately affecting black and Hispanic men.

Obama is by no means the only politician in Washington who has lately taken a hard look at sentencing and judicial reform.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has been a visible proponent of sentencing reform and a coalition of organizations as disparate as Koch Industries and the liberal Center for American Progress has formed to press for judicial reform, displaying rare bipartisan determination to address the issue.

Article II of the Constitution grants the president wide-ranging power to grant commutations and pardons for federal crimes. A commutation lessens the sentence of someone who has been convicted of a crime, but does not absolve that person of legal guilt. Pardons go further, nullifying all the effects of a conviction.

Despite his broad rights to do so, Obama has been staid in his allowance of clemency, granting just one commutation and five pardons during his first term.

The criteria inmates must meet in order to be considered for commutations include: having been incarcerated longer than 10 years; demonstrating good behavior while in prison; and having received a sentence that is longer than would be granted under current sentencing laws.

In January 2014, the Justice Department began a drive to encourage some low-level drug offenders to seek clemency. Later that year, the United States Sentencing Commission released new rules making nearly 50,000 federal prisoners serving time for drug offenses eligible for early release starting in November 2015.

Since 2014, Obama has given an increased number of commutations, granting nine during the 2014 fiscal year, and 33 so far during fiscal year 2015. That number will increase substantially if reports of the White House’s planned reprieves bear fruit.

The number of presidential pardons and commutations granted has fallen in recent decades. Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford issued an average of 735 pardons and 103 commutations each. The five presidents who held office before Obama, by comparison, issued an average of 317 pardons and 23 commutations each, according to Department of Justice statistics.

Obama has so far issued 64 pardons and 43 commutations.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/obama-set-commute-dozens-nonviolent-drug-sentences-aides-say/

Wanna bet Jay Z gets his drug record expunged?

And I like him (even though his music isn't to my taste). He's a success story and a testament to the fact that anyone can turn their life around in America. I'm just saying.

As for nonviolent drug offenses, half those crimes are committed by desperate junkies. And the old Rockefeller laws were insane. I don't like Obama (even though in 2008 I was a HUGE supporter, but I'm man enough to admit my mistakes).

But this doesn't bother me. The prisons are overcrowded and the so-called "war on drugs" has failed miserably. We need a new approach. But it's easier said than done.

Then he'll only have 98 problems



I agree with all of this. The Rockefeller laws were draconian, as is most of our policy on drugs. Especially 'soft' drugs.

Bingo... It's one thing to have draconian laws if they actually work. It's another to have the largest prison population on Earth while losing whatever war we are trying to fight.

Then why doesn't Obama remove marijuana from being a Schedule I drug and let the states regulate it as they do alcohol?

About 50% of all prisoners are incarcerated for drug offenses, but only 10% of those are for marijuana. Many times drug offenders used weapons and so get counted for each crime, so the drug offense has to be taken in context. Sometimes, also, drug offenders who are repeat offenders could have received very lengthy sentences. The federal prison system usually has the very worst drug traffickers and far less of them than state prisons do.

If we wanted to make a real dent in the prison population without risking public safety, then one thing we would need to do is strengthen our immigration laws. Almost 25% of our prison population is foreign-born, and 71% of those are Mexican nationals.

Other remedies would be to increase the role of theism in public life instead of the secularizing trend we're going through now. Back in the day when people could go to bed at night without having to lock their front doors the Ten Commandments were taught in school. Not much of a will for doing that today, but it would be one remedy.

Then of course is changing our educational system and improving our economy, but even employed people steal and kill, so improving and increasing public morality would have to be a priority if we were going to seriously deal with the issue of decreasing the prison population in a rational way. Or we could open all the prisons and get rid of all laws, but I don't think most people want to live in an anarchistic Mad Max-style society.

We could put them all on a boat to Cuba. Call it The Mariel II. That would be ironic .

Non violent drug offenders. Let's see they are the ones that can actually afford their drugs and those that will not drive when high.

So those are the only ones he is going to release right?

Aren't you an ex-junkie?

I only bring it up because you speak about your casual drug use quite a bit. How many laws have you unknowingly broken while copping? (which in and of itself is a crime, so there's number one).

And I like you, Foots. I recently admitted that we have more in common than I'm comfortable saying lol. But in one breath you talk about all of the felonies that you've committed in your life, and in the next you're a bigger conservative that anyone who ever came out of Texas.

It just doesn't make any sense to me. If you practiced what you preached, you'd turn yourself in and you'd probably end up with twenty years. Just some food for thought.

the war on drugs has always been a farce, billions wasted. still tons of drugs on the street.

Obama should remove marijuana from being a schedule one drug. its ridiculous that he doesn't, but doing so would be common sense, and that is in short supply in the capital.

I could afford my coke. I did not steal or hurt people to get the money to buy it. I didn't drive when I was using either. I hate to drive.

I do like to steal. That is different I stole as a kid and an adult before I got the coke habit. Some friends of mine get hooked but on heroin. Have some friends that deal drugs mostly heroin. My friends that got hook on heroin if they had to have it. They would do anything to get it.

Doing things illegal never bothered me I wanted to make money. I am retired been retired since 1996. I can do anything I want now. My only problem is I don't seem to want to do much any more.

this is funny



this is funny

Despite his continuous references to selling drugs..Jay Z doesn't have a rap sheet.
1)years ago he was arrested for assault against a guy who was allegedly bootlegging his music. Articles mentioned that he had no prior convictions..A rival of Jay's (Nas) famously brought this up in a battle
2)in the sports section of gbb, there's an old discussion about Jay z and the screening process he went through to be a licensed agent for MLB....no convictions are mentioned, but he was famously given an exemption for the college degree requirement, and his agency was okay-ed.

He's one of the VERY few guys who participated in the crack trade and left without any convictions or charges. I think the lack of an arrest or conviction record might have something to do with him continuously mentioning selling drugs.....20+ years AFTER the fact.

I don't do drugs, no pot or anything (may be a surprise with my avatar and Username). What won't be a surprise to some of you I am against the War on Drugs and think it is ok for people to use drugs as long as you aren't driving under the influence or robbing/assaulting people for drugs or money. In my book this an ok move.

I think your reasoning is right on. for what the war on drugs is costing we the taxpayer, it has to go down as the greatest debacle in U.S. history.

the war on drugs was started by Richard Nixon, hardly the sharpest knife in the drawer.

If our politicians really want to wage a drug war they should look at the pharma companies and terrible doctors that have turned large segment of the population into prescription opioid addicts. Housewives whacked on percoset driving their kids around are as dangerous as drunk drivers.

But, when its done by a big corporation they don't give a shit. The campaign donations might stop.

Same goes for Benzos. Alprazolam (Xanax) is the most prescribed drug in America today. Scarsdale soccer Moms whacked out on tranquilizers washed down with Cosmos all while doing lunch on Garth Road or the like. Then picking up the kiddies from school, or practice, or what have you. It's endemic in the tonier suburbs.

and that is why hardly anyone has any respect for those in congress, I think their approval rating [congress] is 12%

correct me if i'm wrong, in any other country a 12% rating of leaders would start an insurrection, here it's just shrugged upon as normal. that's how far we have failed as a nation.

You're not wrong Binnie, and I'd high five you if I could.

thank you kid.