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Obama Commutes the Prison Sentences of 58 Federal Convicts, Including 18 Who Were Given Life Sentences
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Obama Commutes the Prison Sentences of 58 Federal Convicts, Including 18 Who Were Given Life Sentences

The effort is part of the Obama adminsitration's plan to overhaul the criminal justice system.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Thursday commuted the prison sentences of 58 federal convicts, including 18 who were given life sentences.

The action is part of a broader effort to overhaul the criminal justice system and ease punishments for nonviolent drug offenders.

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Most whose sentences were cut short are now due out on Sept. 2, though some will be released over the next two years.

Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates said in a statement that the prisoners have been "granted a second chance to lead productive and law-abiding lives."

The Justice Department revamped the clemency process two years ago to encourage more applications from nonviolent federal offenders.

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