A few months ago, I received this letter from a Floridian named Sherman Chester. When Sherman was a young man, he wrote, he made some bad choices, got in over his head, and ended up with a life sentence without parole for a nonviolent drug charge. At Sherman's sentencing, even the judge couldn't believe he was bound by law to hand down a punishment that didn't fit the crime.
We know that Sherman's story is all too common in this country -- a country that imprisons its citizens at a rate far higher than any other. Too many men and women end up in a criminal justice system that serves up excessive punishments, especially for nonviolent drug offenses.
But this is a country that believes in second chances. So we've got to make sure that our criminal justice system works for everyone. We've got to make sure that it keeps our streets safe while also making sure that an entire class of people like Sherman isn't relegated to a life on the margins.
Last year, after he served more than 20 long years in prison, I commuted Sherman's sentence and those of many others who were serving unjust and outdated prison sentences.
And today, I'm commuting the sentences of an additional 214 men and women who are just as deserving of a second chance. Altogether, I've commuted more sentences than the past nine presidents combined, and I am not done yet.
These acts of clemency are important steps for families like Sherman's and steer our country in a better direction, but they alone won't fix our criminal justice system. We need Congress to pass meaningful federal sentencing reform that will allow us to more effectively use taxpayer dollars to protect the public.
I hope you'll take a minute to read and share Sherman's letter. 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.
Obama promises to commute the drug related sentences of 214 men and women
- Thread starter Randoug
- Start date
SleezyBigSlim
Banned
I've told dudes that, that despite their cynicism of what Obama has done for black people, this is one issue the Obama administration along with the Justice Department have been favorable towards what black advocacy asks for from the justice system.
So not surprised.
So not surprised.
Good. Only about 100,000+ more to go
You mean "affects"? And it will affect your rep when the rep system turns back on.
blalienz
#AGP
Ok.
More people that look like you living their lives instead of being invisible and forgotten slaves for selling drugs that kept selling without them.
Thats the problem...a lot of these cases got strings attached like:
Federal only cases
other charges
etc.
the cac mamba
Veteran
why don't you go suck the nearest police officers dikk
Peace, hopefully all this complaining about Obama will lead us demanding more out of Trump/Hilary
