Obama pardons and shortens terms for 214 prisoners; 67 had life sentence

Obama pardons and shortens terms for 214 prisoners; 67 had life sentence

US President Obama commuted the sentences of 214 federal prisoners Wednesday, the largest single-day grant of commutations in the nation's history.  He has 562 total commutations during his presidency — most of which have come in the past year . Obama has now used his constitutional clemency power to shorten the sentences of more federal inmates than 9 past presidents combined.
 The early release of the 214 prisoners, mostly low-level drug offenders and non violent offenders, is part of Obama's effort to correct what he views as unreasonably long mandatory minimum sentences to those inmates. Some date back decades, including 71-year-old Richard L. Reser of Sedgwick, Kan., who was given a 40-year sentence for dealing methamphatamine and firearm possession in 1989. He'll be released Dec. 1.

Obama said in a Facebook post:

"The more we understand the human stories behind this problem, the sooner we can start making real changes that keep our streets safe, break the cycle of incarceration in this country, and save taxpayers like you money,"

The president's clemency power usually takes one of two forms: Pardons, which give offenders a full legal forgiveness for their crimes, and commutations, which shorten prison sentences but often leave other conditions intact. Many of those granted commutations Wednesday will remain under court supervision even after release.