President Obama commutes sentences for another 111 federal prisoners

On Tuesday, President Obama continued his project of commuting sentences for hundreds of federal prisoners, most of them nonviolent drug offenders. The White House released a list of 111 people to receive clemency, with some to be released at the end of the year and others having their sentences otherwise shortened. White House Counsel Neil Eggleston writes:

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.  They are individuals who received unduly harsh sentences under outdated laws for committing largely nonviolent drug crimes, for example, the 35 individuals whose life sentences were commuted today. 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.

Tuesday’s 111 brings Obama’s total to 673 commutations. For context: 

In criminal justice reform as in so many other areas, we see Obama using the power of the presidency both to make a real difference in people’s lives and to draw attention to what Congress should be fixing by passing legislation.