News · Page 2
Guides and news on federal clemency
Guide ·
The Presidential Pardon in the Constitution: Where the Power Comes FromOne sentence in the Constitution gives the President the power to pardon. Here is what it says and where it came from.
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The History of the Presidential PardonThe pardon power came from the English king's power of mercy. Here is how it entered the Constitution and how Presidents have used it.
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Reprieve Definition: What a Presidential Reprieve MeansA reprieve is a temporary delay of a punishment. It doesn't cancel the sentence or the conviction.
Clemency news archive ·
Edward Snowden: Where Is He Now, and Could He Be Pardoned?Edward Snowden leaked secret NSA documents in 2013 and has lived in Russia since. Supporters have campaigned for a presidential pardon.
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The Office of the Pardon Attorney: What It Does and How to Reach ItThe Office of the Pardon Attorney is the Justice Department office that reviews federal clemency petitions and advises the President.
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What Does It Mean When a Federal Sentence Is Commuted?A commuted sentence is a sentence the President has shortened. The conviction stays, but the punishment is reduced.
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Clemency Statistics: Pardons and Commutations by PresidentHow many pardons and commutations each President has granted, based on Justice Department figures.
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The Presidential Turkey Pardon: A Thanksgiving TraditionEvery Thanksgiving, the President 'pardons' a turkey. Here is how the tradition started and why it isn't a real legal pardon.
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Clemency Meaning: The Legal Definition and the Five TypesClemency means mercy. In federal cases, it is the President's power to forgive a crime or lighten a sentence.
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Obama’s Clemency Statistics: Pardons and CommutationsPresident Obama granted clemency 1,927 times: 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations. Here is what the numbers show.
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How to Write a Clemency Letter (With a Sample)How to write the most important part of a clemency petition: your own explanation of why you deserve mercy. Includes a template and a sample.
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Clemency Project 2014 and the Obama Clemency InitiativeClemency Project 2014 was a group of volunteer lawyers who helped federal prisoners apply for commutation under the Obama Clemency Initiative.
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What Is a Presidential Pardon, and What Does It Do?A pardon is the President's official forgiveness for a federal crime. It can restore rights, but it does not erase the conviction.
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Famous Presidential Pardons in American HistorySix notable uses of the presidential pardon power, from the Whiskey Rebellion to George Steinbrenner.
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How to Get a Presidential Pardon for a Federal ConvictionThe rules for asking the President for a pardon: who qualifies, when to apply, where to send the form, and what reviewers look for.
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The Presidential Pardon Process: What Happens, Step by StepHow a federal pardon request moves from the application form to the Justice Department to the President.
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How to Apply for a Presidential Pardon: The Application, Step by StepA plain guide to the federal pardon application: who can apply, when to apply, what the form asks, and what happens next.
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How to Ask the President to Shorten a Federal Prison SentenceA commutation is a request to the President to shorten a federal sentence. Here is who can apply, how, and what the Justice Department looks at.
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What Is Clemency? A Plain-English Definition for Federal CasesClemency is mercy from the President for a federal crime. The two main kinds are a pardon and a commutation.
Clemency news archive ·
The Legacy of President Obama’s CommutationsPresident Obama commuted 1,715 federal sentences, more than any President before him. Here is how and why.
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