PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – President Barack Obama has shortened prison sentences for 214 federal prisoners, The Associated Press reports. This is the most commutations in a single day in more than a century.
Obama has now commuted the sentences of 562 men and women in prison because of outdated and overly harsh sentencing laws, including 197 individuals who were serving life sentences, The White House said in a statement.
Most prisoners were serving time for nonviolent drug offenses.
Obama commuted the sentences of 58 similar offenders in May, arguing that laws requiring mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent crimes are unfair. He remains committed to continuing to reduce the prison terms for individuals who would already be free under current guidelines.
"This is a country that believes in second chances." Obama said of granting clemency via Twitter.