JUST A FEW INCONVENIENT FACTS ABOUT MERCY AND COMPASSION
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There are many misconceptions about the mercy and compassion shown in recent administrations. During the first five years of the Obama Administration, the Federal Prison population increased by over 19,000 people. During these five years President Obama granted only 1 commutation.
When Clemency Project 2014 was announced, Eric Holder said there would be 10,000 or more clemency's granted. When the Clemency Project was concluded, Obama had granted 1,715 commutations and 212 pardons.
Obama denied 18,749 petitions for commutations. He closed without action 4,252 petitions for commutation and left 11,355 pending.
On the first day of the Biden administration the population of the BOP was between 151,000 and 152,000. In September of 2024 the BOP inmate population was 158,483. This is s significant increase.
President Biden has closed 8,885 petitions for clemency and denied 5,402 petitions. He has granted 131 petitions and there are 12,548 pending.
During the Trump administration the Federal Prison Population decreased by about 35,000 people. He closed 7,498 petitions for commutation and denied 98 petitions for commutation. During his 4 year term he granted 94 commutations and 144 pardons. 10,916 petitions for commutation were left pending.
The budget for the office of the pardon attorney has increased four fold during the Biden Administration. What is this budget being used for. They did announce that they would be closing existing petitions for commutations and create a shorter petition. This means that all those that are closed must resubmit a new petition and gather support for it again. I also noticed that they announced that the new petition had been translated into Spanish. Apparently this took 3 years.
It's hard to respond without having the facts of individuals, nature of the crime, risks of harming others in the future.
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