Obama plans clemency for hundreds of drug offenders

[MohRokTah]

Obama plans clemency for hundreds of drug offenders

Barbara Scrivner's long quest for mercy tests a president's will — and her own faith

DUBLIN, Calif—Scrawled on the inside of Barbara Scrivner's left arm is a primitive prison tattoo that says "Time Flies."

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Now, in his final years in office, Obama has trained his sights on prisoners like Scrivner, and wants to use his previously dormant pardon power as part of a larger strategy to restore fairness to the criminal-justice system. A senior administration official tells Yahoo News the president could grant clemency to "hundreds, perhaps thousands" of people locked up for nonviolent drug crimes by the time he leaves office — a stunning number that hasn't been seen since Gerald Ford extended amnesty to Vietnam draft dodgers in the 1970s.

The scope of the new clemency initiative is so large that administration officials are preparing a series of personnel and process changes to help them manage the influx of petitions they expect Obama to approve. Among the changes is reforming the recently censured office within the Justice Department responsible for processing pardon petitions. Yahoo News has learned that the pardon attorney, Ronald Rodgers, who was criticized in a 2012 Internal watchdog report for mishandling a high-profile clemency petition, is likely to step down as part of that overhaul. Additional procedures for handling large numbers of clemency petitions could be announced as soon as this week, a senior administration official said, though it could take longer.

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This would be a good move, IMO. It's a waste of money and effort to keep these non-violent offenders in prison over idiotic mandatory minimum sentencing.


Yahoo Link

[onenote]

1. According to an unnamed source.

I wouldn't put too much stock in this report, at least in the part suggesting clemency for "thousands" of people.

[Jesus Malverde]

2. He could also tell his own US attorneys to stop prosecuting dispensaries NOW.

That he considers releasing meth dealers while locking up medical marijuana entrepreneurs is musical chairs.

[fredamae]

3. It costs about $3000.00

per month per head to incarcerate.
It is pure waste for society is no safer post incarcerating a cannabis consumer or any other non-violent drug offender.

And for those incarcerated who actually suffer from the disease of addiction? Then for crying out loud--use that $3k a month for in-patient treatment so they can get effective, long term treatment that allows them to become "whole and productive" again.
At least that's how I'd like my tax dollar investments used.

[bluestateguy]

4. I wish this had not leaked

Now that will only cause the Law and Order Drug Warrior crowd to start mobilizing in opposition.

[MohRokTah]

5. I have no problem with a leak.

It's great news and will make the drug warriors look like the cruel idiots they are. Make way for violent criminals in the prisons.