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| Obama frees drug offenders whose terms 'didn't fit crimes' | Obama frees drug offenders whose terms 'didn't fit crimes' |
| (1 day 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. |
| The 46 prisoners, 14 of whom were serving life sentences, are scheduled to be released on 10 November. | The 46 prisoners, 14 of whom were serving life sentences, are scheduled to be released on 10 November. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "These men and women were not hardened criminals. But the overwhelming majority had to be sentenced to at least 20 years," Mr Obama said. | "These men and women were not hardened criminals. But the overwhelming majority had to be sentenced to at least 20 years," Mr Obama said. |
| "But I believe that at its heart, America's a nation of second chances. And I believe these folks deserve their second chance." | "But I believe that at its heart, America's a nation of second chances. And I believe these folks deserve their second chance." |
| 'Prove doubters wrong' | 'Prove doubters wrong' |
| In a letter to one of the prisoners, Mr Obama said he was granting the applications because "you have demonstrated the potential to turn your life around". | In a letter to one of the prisoners, Mr Obama said he was granting the 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. | 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. | A commutation leaves the conviction in place, but ends the punishment. |
| Some of those to be freed | Some of those to be freed |
| In a statement, White House counsel Neil Eggleston said Mr Obama is likely to issue more commutations before leaving office in 2017. | 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". | But he added that "clemency alone will not fix decades of overly punitive sentencing policies". |
| President 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. | President 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. | 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. |
| This week's focus on criminal justice signals a renewed bid by Mr Obama's administration to tackle what he sees as a lack of fairness in the system. | This week's focus on criminal justice signals a renewed bid by Mr Obama's administration to tackle what he sees as a lack of fairness in the system. |
| The last significant changes came in 2013 when US Attorney General Eric Holder dropped mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. | The last significant changes came in 2013 when US Attorney General Eric Holder dropped mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. |