AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT: CAP Experts on President Obama’s Announcement Around Commutations of Sentences

Washington, D.C. — President Barack Obama granted commutations of 46 sentences today. His video announcement underscored the responsibility and opportunity that comes with a commutation and cited cases in which the punishment required by law far exceeded the offenses of those individuals. Through his announcement, he reaffirmed his commitment to using all the tools at his disposal to remedy unfairness in the country’s criminal justice system. This latest move brings the number of commutations issued by the president to almost 90, with the vast majority of them going to nonviolent offenders sentenced for drug crimes under outdated sentencing rules. His effort is part of a broader recognition that the nation needs to address a broken criminal justice system that disproportionately affects poor communities of color.

The following experts from the Center for American Progress are available for comment on the topic:

• Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President, Policy
• Rebecca Vallas, Director of Policy, Poverty to Prosperity Program
• Todd A. Cox, Senior Fellow
• Michele Jawando, Vice President, Legal Progress

Related resources:

• One Strike and You’re Out: How We Can Eliminate Barriers to Economic Security and Mobility for People with Criminal Records by Rebecca Vallas and Sharon Dietrich
• Poverty and Opportunity Profile on Americans with Criminal Records by Half in Ten and The Sentencing Project
• All Pennsylvanians Will Benefit from a Clean Slate Policy for Minor Criminal Records by Rebecca Vallas and Sharon Dietrich

To speak to an expert or for more information, please contact Tanya S. Arditi at [email protected] or 202.741.6258.

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