President Obama commutes the sentences of 111 people

President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 111 federal prisoners on Tuesday as part of an initiative targeted at decreasing the prison stays of individuals incarcerated under the nation’s harsh drug laws.

President Obama commutes 111 federal prisoners

The White House said the commutations brought President Obama’s total for the month of August to 325, the most commutations granted in a single month in United States history.

The total number of prisoners who met the administration’s criteria for clemency is believed to be around 1,500. So far, Obama has granted clemency to 673 individuals. But advocates have called on the administration to do more.

Advocates wants more

“We must remember that these are individuals ― sons, daughters, parents, and in many cases, grandparents ― who have taken steps toward rehabilitation and who have earned their second chance,” White House Counsel Neil Eggleston wrote in a blog post.

“They are individuals who received unduly harsh sentences under outdated laws for committing largely nonviolent drug crimes, for example, the 35 individuals whose life sentences were commuted today. For each of these applicants, the President considers the individual merits of each application to determine that an applicant is ready to make use of his or her second chance.”

The list includes 39 people who had been sentenced to life.