President Obama Has Now Commuted the Sentences of 248 Individuals
3/31/16
https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/03/30/president-obama-has-now-commuted-sentences-248-individuals
President Obama commuted the sentences of an additional 61 people, over a third of whom were serving life sentences. This brings the total of people he has commuted the sentences of to 248. This is greater than the previous six presidents combined. He has done this in a commitment to bringing about change in the criminal justice program. He hopes to commute the sentences of those who will make the most of their newfound freedom. The White House will also hold a briefing titled Life After Clemency. This briefing will help discuss the paths available to re-enter society.
This power that Obama has used is the power to grant clemency or to grant forgiveness for a crime. The president also has the power to grant reprieves, or delays the punishment for a crime, and pardons, forgiveness for a crime entirely. These powers are express powers of the presidency as enumerated in the Constitution. President Obama has been using these powers because the current political climate will not punish him for doing so. He believes, as do a majority of Americans, that the criminal justice system needs revising and changing to become fair. They agree that punishments are outdated and too harsh upon many Americans. This is not just a view of liberalism, this is a view of the American people as a whole.
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