Washington, Apr 11 (EFE).- The use of clemency for people who are or have been in prison made “significant advances” in the United States during 2022, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said today.
The organization, which is dedicated to defending civil rights, described clemency “as a tool to correct failed policies and offer second chances to people who are or have been incarcerated.”
The ACLU report argues that leniency is “an instrument for good governance and the president (Joe Biden) can do more to capitalize on the full powers of leniency.”
Governors who “embraced the power of redemption and applied notable pardons and commutations made impactful decisions that delivered obvious results in 2022,” said Tara Stutsman, author of the report.
“Despite important advances, leniency remains an underutilized instrument,” he added.
“If our rulers used clemency powers and provided relief from the harmful political decisions that have plagued our legal system, we could begin to alleviate systemic injustice and correct outdated, harsh sentencing,” according to Stutsman.
According to the ACLU, 68% of voters in the United States favor clemency, and this includes majorities among Democrats as well as independents and Republicans.
During the 2020 election year, voters gave their support to pardons and 61% of them indicated that they would probably be more inclined to vote for candidates who support clemency plans, the group added.
Statewide, the ACLU said, pardons jumped from about 2,744 to 48,086, largely due to outright pardons from former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown for people convicted of marijuana possession.
“There were governors from both parties who granted pardons and commutations of sentences for drug-related offenses,” the report added.
