President Obama announced via a Facebook video that he issued commutations to 46 American prisoners on July 10, 2015. These commutations were issued to people who had been convicted under antiquated, incredibly harsh laws for nonviolent drug crimes. They are now free.
Overly harsh laws
Almost all of the men and women who were released were sentenced when drug laws were stricter, and would have already finished their sentences if they had been convicted under today’s laws. For example, Jerry Allen Bailey was sentenced to 30 years in jail for “conspiracy to violate narcotics laws,” and Jackie Johnson was sentenced to 20 years in prison for “possession with intent to distribute cocaine” according to this Upworthy article.
Personal letter to each freed prisoner
President Obama wrote a letter to each of the released prisoners, emphasizing that America is a nation of second chances. The letter sent is published on The White House blog here. He wrote, “The power to grant pardons and clemency is one of the most profound authorities granted to the President of the United States. It embodies the basic belief in our democracy that people deserve a second chance after having made a mistake in their lives that led to a conviction under our laws.”
Uphill climb of criminal justice reform
The Washington Post reported that since the Johnson administration, today’s sentence commutations were the most issued in a single day. This act is emblematic of his focus on reforming the criminal justice system in this country, though the process is slow-going, since it’s such a nuanced issue.
While he has issued 89 commutations, more than presidents Reagan, Clinton, and both Bush presidents combined, it’s still just a small fraction of thousands of requests that constantly flood into his office.
Of course, these commutations mean a great deal to the offenders and their families, who can finally get on with their lives, but more overhaul of unjust practices in the American court system will need to be accomplished for true criminal justice reform to really take form in this country.
California is taking the lead
Thankfully California is leading the way in terms of criminal justice reform, since Proposition 47 was passed in November 2014, and many other initiatives are taking shape in our state as well. Proposition 47 has allowed for the release of thousands of nonviolent prisoners from the state and county jails, especially nonviolent drug offenders. It’s also allowed many people to petition to downgrade their convictions from felonies to misdemeanors, dramatically improving their prospects for successful lives. All of the repercussions of Proposition 47 have yet to be felt, but one thing is for sure—it’s certainly taking California and the entire US in the right direction. There’s been a renewed focus on rehabilitation and, just as President Obama wrote, second chances.
Best criminal defense lawyer in Southern California
If your case might be affected by the passage of Proposition 47, or if you’d like to appeal to President Obama for a commutation, you’ll need California’s best criminal defense lawyer on your side, guiding you through every aspect of the process to ensure the best chances of success. Call Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm for a free consultation today at: 714-760-4088.
