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Obama frees drug offenders whose terms "didn't fit crimes" Obama frees drug offenders whose terms 'didn't fit crimes'
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentences of 46 drug offenders as part of a renewed effort to reform the criminal justice system.US President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentences of 46 drug offenders as part of a renewed effort to reform the criminal justice system.
In a video announcement, he said the prisoners were not "hardened criminals" and had been given sentences that "didn't fit their crimes".In a video announcement, he said the prisoners were not "hardened criminals" and had been given sentences that "didn't fit their crimes".
He said it was part of a wider effort to restore the sense of fairness in a "nation of second chances".He said it was part of a wider effort to restore the sense of fairness in a "nation of second chances".
Mr Obama is due to unveil plans for criminal justice reforms on Tuesday.Mr Obama is due to unveil plans for criminal justice reforms on Tuesday.
He has now commuted the sentences of 89 prisoners, with most being non-violent drug offenders who applied for clemency under an initiative that began in April 2014. The 46 prisoners, 14 of whom were serving life sentences, are scheduled to be released on 10 November.
Most of those involved in Monday's move were jailed for crack cocaine offences, which once carried a sentence equivalent to someone caught with 100 times the same amount of powder cocaine. Most of them were jailed for crack cocaine offences, which once carried a sentence equivalent to someone caught with 100 times the same amount of powder cocaine.
The 46 prisoners are scheduled to be released on 10 November.
In a letter sent to each of the prisoners, Mr Obama said he was granting their applications because "you have demonstrated the potential to turn your life around".In a letter sent to each of the prisoners, Mr Obama said he was granting their applications because "you have demonstrated the potential to turn your life around".
The letter ended: "I believe in your ability to prove the doubters wrong, and change your life for the better. So good luck, and Godspeed."The letter ended: "I believe in your ability to prove the doubters wrong, and change your life for the better. So good luck, and Godspeed."
Mr Obama has now commuted the sentences of 89 prisoners, with most being non-violent drug offenders who applied for clemency under an initiative that began in April 2014.
A commutation leaves the conviction in place, but ends the punishment.
In a statement, White House counsel Neil Eggleston said Mr Obama is likely to issue more commutations before leaving office in 2017.
But he added that "clemency alone will not fix decades of overly punitive sentencing policies".
Mr Obama is due to lay out his plans for criminal justice reform in a speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
On Thursday, he is expected to become the first sitting president to visit a federal prison when he goes to the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution outside of Oklahoma City.