Obama Issues First Commutation of Sentence
Thursday, November 24, 2011

Eugenia Jennings of Illinois has become the first person to receive a commutation of sentence from President Barack Obama. Jennings was convicted in 2001 of selling 13.9 grams of crack cocaine to a police informant and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Obama decided to commute her sentence down to 10 years, allowing her to be released next month. Julie Stewart, president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, called Jennings original sentence “overkill” for a nonviolent drug offense.
A survivor of domestic abuse, Jennings began selling crack to support her three children. She is scheduled to be released on December 21.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
President Obama Grants Pardons and Commutation (White House)
FAMM Commends Obama for Exercising Clemency Power (Families Against Mandatory Minimums)
More of These, Please: Obama's First Commutation (by Jacob Sullum, Reason)
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