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Obama commutes eight drug prison terms | Obama commutes eight drug prison terms |
(about 4 hours later) | |
President Barack Obama has commuted the sentences of eight Americans who would have had shorter prison terms under current drug sentencing laws. | President Barack Obama has commuted the sentences of eight Americans who would have had shorter prison terms under current drug sentencing laws. |
Each of the six men and two women had served more than 15 years in prison for charges related to crack cocaine. | Each of the six men and two women had served more than 15 years in prison for charges related to crack cocaine. |
A 2010 law reduced the disparity in sentencing between crack and powdered cocaine offences. | A 2010 law reduced the disparity in sentencing between crack and powdered cocaine offences. |
And in August, the administration dropped mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. | And in August, the administration dropped mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. |
Critics say that heavy drug sentences have hit minorities hardest. | Critics say that heavy drug sentences have hit minorities hardest. |
'Too late' | 'Too late' |
In a statement, Mr Obama said the 2010 law, the Fair Sentencing Act, had begun "to right a decades-old injustice, but for thousands of inmates, it came too late". | In a statement, Mr Obama said the 2010 law, the Fair Sentencing Act, had begun "to right a decades-old injustice, but for thousands of inmates, it came too late". |
"Instead, because of a disparity in the law that is now recognised as unjust, they remain in prison, separated from their families and their communities, at a cost of millions of taxpayer dollars each year." | "Instead, because of a disparity in the law that is now recognised as unjust, they remain in prison, separated from their families and their communities, at a cost of millions of taxpayer dollars each year." |
Some 47% of US prison inmates have been incarcerated for drug offences, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. | Some 47% of US prison inmates have been incarcerated for drug offences, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. |
Many of those with newly commuted sentences were young when they received lengthy prison terms. Six of those on the commutation list had been sentenced to life in prison. | Many of those with newly commuted sentences were young when they received lengthy prison terms. Six of those on the commutation list had been sentenced to life in prison. |
Most will be released in April. One man will go free immediately and another will be released in 2018. | Most will be released in April. One man will go free immediately and another will be released in 2018. |
Among those ending their prison terms: | Among those ending their prison terms: |
Before this, Mr Obama had commuted only one sentence in the five years of his presidency, also involving another drug case, and had pardoned 39 people. | Before this, Mr Obama had commuted only one sentence in the five years of his presidency, also involving another drug case, and had pardoned 39 people. |
On Thursday, the president also pardoned 13 others for various crimes. All had already served their full prison terms. | On Thursday, the president also pardoned 13 others for various crimes. All had already served their full prison terms. |
A pardon forgives a crime and wipes out the conviction, while a commutation leaves the conviction but ends the punishment. | A pardon forgives a crime and wipes out the conviction, while a commutation leaves the conviction but ends the punishment. |
In August, US Attorney General Eric Holder announced a major shift in federal sentencing policies, targeting long mandatory terms that he said have flooded the nation's prisons with low-level drug offenders and diverted crime-fighting dollars that could be far better spent. | In August, US Attorney General Eric Holder announced a major shift in federal sentencing policies, targeting long mandatory terms that he said have flooded the nation's prisons with low-level drug offenders and diverted crime-fighting dollars that could be far better spent. |
And a bill in Congress would apply the Fair Sentencing Act to some drug offenders already in prison, allowing potential clemency to a group of people estimated to be in the thousands by advocacy groups. |
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