ProPublica recently took a look at how frequently President Barack Obama grants pardons to the nation's six million inmates, and the findings are pretty shocking.
During his nearly four years in the White House, Obama pardoned just 22 people and denied 1,019 applications.
From ProPublica:
He has given pardons to roughly 1 of every 50 individuals whose applications were processed by the Justice Department. At this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan had pardoned 1 of every 3 such applicants. George H.W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 16. Bill Clinton had pardoned 1 in 8. George W. Bush had pardoned 1 in 33.
The same can be said of applications for early release from federal prison.
Felons asking Obama for early release stand a less than 1 in 5,000 chance of receiving a commutation. By contrast, applicants who applied to Reagan or President Bill Clinton stood a 1 in 100 chance of success.
"This idea of 'tough on crime' took root around the time of Ronald Reagan and it is striking that President Obama is showing so much less mercy than Reagan," American University political science professor Jeffrey Crouch told ProPublica.
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