FAMM Welcomes Record-High Commutations

The White House today released the list of President Obama’s final commutation grants. This latest round concludes a series of grants from the president totaling 1,715, barring any last-minute announcements tomorrow. (He also granted a total of 212 pardons.) Many of the prisoners on today’s list, which included a record 330 people, have been serving excessive mandatory minimum sentences.

FAMM was one of the founding members of Clemency Project 2014, the pro bono legal effort that helped to identify prisoners who met President Obama’s clemency criteria and find lawyers for them.

“This is one of the most rewarding initiatives in which FAMM ever has been involved,” said Mary Price, general counsel of FAMM. “I am thrilled to have been a part of this effort. The hard work and the commitment of the Clemency Project partners and volunteer attorneys have been inspiring. I am especially grateful for the dedication of the president and his team. They made history.”

“The record-high number of commutations make one thing absolutely clear,” said Kevin Ring, FAMM’s president. “Too many people serving prison terms have been serving for too long because of mandatory sentencing policies.

“As much as we appreciate today’s grants, we won’t rest. The laws that created these absurd sentences will still be on the books after the president leaves. Congress must act to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing laws and let courts impose punishments that fit each crime,” said Ring.