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"Obama should commute the sentences of many people serving egregiously long sentences for crack cocaine offenses"

By Douglas A. Berman

The quote in the title of this post is a line from this CNN commentary by Kemba Smith Pradia, which is headlined "My life saved by reprieve of 24-year sentence for crack." Here is how it begins: Ten years ago, days before Christmas, President Bill Clinton changed my life forever. I was in federal prison, serving the seventh year of a 24-year sentence for a first-time nonviolent crack cocaine offense. Clinton's mercy and acknowledgement that my sentence was unjust led him to grant me a commutation.  Had he not done so, I would be in prison until 2016.  On December 22, the anniversary of my release, I will join others in a fast for justice to honor those in prison who deserve the same relief from their long sentences for low-level drug offenses...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on December 22, 2010 (boomark / email).