USA - President Barack Obama today reduced the prison sentences of 111 Americans convicted of drug crimes

President Barack Obama today reduced the prison sentences of 111 Americans convicted of drug crimes, the second large batch of commutations this month after the 214 he pardoned on Aug. 3. The President has now shortened the sentences of 673 Americans, the majority of whom were convicted of drug crimes and serving long sentences. More than one-third of Obama's clemency recipients had been serving life sentences. Obama has said he wants to imbue the justice system with more fairness, including reforming mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent crimes. Many of the criminals whose sentences were shortened Tuesday would have been given far shorter punishments under current guidelines. The White House said Tuesday that more than one-third of Obama's clemency recipients had been serving life sentences. "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," wrote Neil Eggleston, Obama's top lawyer, in a blog post Tuesday. "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." (See also June 3, 2016)