Obama Commutes Sentences Of 11 Convicts in Florida
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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami/AP) – Five men, serving life sentences for drug crimes in Florida, have had those prison terms cut by President Barack Obama.
Obama cut the prison sentences of 46 non-violent offenders nationwide Monday, saying "their punishments didn't fit the crime."
They included 11 in Florida, including five who were serving life sentences. Now those sentences will expire Nov. 10.
Obama has now issued nearly 90 commutations during his presidency, most of them to non-violent offenders sentenced for drug crimes under outdated sentencing guidelines. A commutation leaves the conviction in place, but ends the punishment.
White House counsel Neil Eggleston says the president could issue even more commutations before leaving office in 2017.
Obama plans to present ideas for improving the fairness of the U.S. criminal justice system during a speech Tuesday to the NAACP.
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