Texas inmate whose sentence was commuted by Barack Obama REJECTS the offer | Daily Mail Online
A drug trafficker has become the first of 775 inmates who had their sentences commuted by President Obama to reject the offer.
Arnold Ray Jones, who has six years of a 20-year sentence left, refused the chance to be released from a low-security prison in Beaumont, Texas, in two years.
He was jailed in 2002 for drug trafficking and consistently used crack cocaine.
His seemingly odd decision may hinge on the condition that he would have to complete a residential drug treatment program if he accepted Obama's offer, USA Today reported.
It could also be because he is banking on getting released for good behavior in April 2019 - just eight months after he would be freed under Obama's commutation.
The president commuted the sentences of 102 federal inmates just last week, bringing the total during his administration to 775 - more than any president in nearly half a century.
But the Department of Justice updated its online records, revealing a first under Jones' name, which read: 'Condition declined, commutation not effectuated'.
Records show that Jones once used crack cocaine every week, and his previous efforts to stay off drugs after completing treatment programs were unsuccessful.
The deal offered by Obama might not even make that big a difference to Jones if he is banking on an early release in April 2019 based on good behavior.
That's just eight months longer than the August 2018 release date offered by Obama.
The commutations, reserved for people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, have been increasingly doled out with strings attached.
Among the inmates granted a reduced sentenced, 92 are required to attend an intensive drug treatment program for nine months, where they will participate in four hours of therapy programs every day.
White House Counsel Neil Eggleston wrote on the White House website: 'For some, the president believes that the applicant’s successful re-entry will be aided with additional drug treatment...
'Underlying all the president’s commutation decisions is the belief that these deserving individuals should be given the tools to succeed in their second chance.'
While a pardon wipes the slate clean, a commutation reduces a sentence while the conviction remains on the records.
Civil rights like voting or serving on a jury are also not restored under a commutation.
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I find this interesting. I wonder if the reasoning is behind the rehab program. Maybe if he gets released early on his own terms he won't have to complete the program and can smoke crack freely. I wonder how long you have to drop UA's after the program is complete.
Maybe he has a boyfriend though
.
What would y'all do?
A drug trafficker has become the first of 775 inmates who had their sentences commuted by President Obama to reject the offer.
Arnold Ray Jones, who has six years of a 20-year sentence left, refused the chance to be released from a low-security prison in Beaumont, Texas, in two years.
He was jailed in 2002 for drug trafficking and consistently used crack cocaine.
His seemingly odd decision may hinge on the condition that he would have to complete a residential drug treatment program if he accepted Obama's offer, USA Today reported.
It could also be because he is banking on getting released for good behavior in April 2019 - just eight months after he would be freed under Obama's commutation.
The president commuted the sentences of 102 federal inmates just last week, bringing the total during his administration to 775 - more than any president in nearly half a century.
But the Department of Justice updated its online records, revealing a first under Jones' name, which read: 'Condition declined, commutation not effectuated'.
Records show that Jones once used crack cocaine every week, and his previous efforts to stay off drugs after completing treatment programs were unsuccessful.
The deal offered by Obama might not even make that big a difference to Jones if he is banking on an early release in April 2019 based on good behavior.
That's just eight months longer than the August 2018 release date offered by Obama.
The commutations, reserved for people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, have been increasingly doled out with strings attached.
Among the inmates granted a reduced sentenced, 92 are required to attend an intensive drug treatment program for nine months, where they will participate in four hours of therapy programs every day.
White House Counsel Neil Eggleston wrote on the White House website: 'For some, the president believes that the applicant’s successful re-entry will be aided with additional drug treatment...
'Underlying all the president’s commutation decisions is the belief that these deserving individuals should be given the tools to succeed in their second chance.'
While a pardon wipes the slate clean, a commutation reduces a sentence while the conviction remains on the records.
Civil rights like voting or serving on a jury are also not restored under a commutation.
......................
I find this interesting. I wonder if the reasoning is behind the rehab program. Maybe if he gets released early on his own terms he won't have to complete the program and can smoke crack freely. I wonder how long you have to drop UA's after the program is complete.
Maybe he has a boyfriend though
. What would y'all do?
