Alice Marie Johnson makes black history as first ever Pardon Czar.

[Valletta]

Alice Marie Johnson, a former federal inmate turned criminal justice advocate, first gained national attention when President Trump commuted her life sentence in 2018. Johnson had been convicted in 1996 for a nonviolent drug offense and served more than 20 years in prison before Trump intervened. Criminal justice activists heavily championed her case and even caught the attention of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who lobbied for her release.

Alice Marie Johnson Makes Black History As The First Ever 'Pardon Czar'

In an unprecedented step for criminal justice reform, former President Donald Trump appointed Alice Marie Johnson, a Black woman, as his official "Pardon

blackwestchester.com

It is great to see this administration stand for justice.

 

[RileyG]

Good for her!

 

[Richard T]

Alice Marie Johnson, a former federal inmate turned criminal justice advocate, first gained national attention when President Trump commuted her life sentence in 2018. Johnson had been convicted in 1996 for a nonviolent drug offense and served more than 20 years in prison before Trump intervened. Criminal justice activists heavily championed her case and even caught the attention of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who lobbied for her release.

Alice Marie Johnson Makes Black History As The First Ever 'Pardon Czar'

In an unprecedented step for criminal justice reform, former President Donald Trump appointed Alice Marie Johnson, a Black woman, as his official "Pardon

blackwestchester.com

It is great to see this administration stand for justice.

An interesting development. On one hand, I do not like the powers of the Presidency expanded. Per the article "A Pardon Czar could provide a transformative second chance to millions of Americans, especially those affected by the harsh policies of the 1994 crime bill, which former President Biden himself authored and that the Democrats proudly promoted as cornerstone criminal justice legislation at the time." This position is redundant as there already is a "office of the Pardon Attorney." Likely they will add other reviewers. I do not think that is what the framers intended. That the President's office would review that many cases. On the other hand, I like second chances, I perhaps would prefer less mandatory sentencing as mentioned in the article and more flexibility by Federal parole boards for that chance. If you recall the Marc Rich pardon by President Clinton, you have to be aware that the power to pardon can be corrupted. We saw some of that with Biden, even going so far as to pardon from crimes not even charged. Give an inch and some Presidents may take a mile. Wiki says this of Trump's previous term. "Many wealthy individuals paid tens of thousands of dollars to former advisors to Trump for them to lobby Trump to grant pardons, bypassing the review process of the Office of the Pardon Attorney.[35][15] Trump former personal lawyer John M. Dowd was hired by a number of convicts to lobby Trump for clemency, taking advantage of his direct access to Trump's White House Counsel's Office."
15]

Bill Clinton pardon controversy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[The Liturgist]

On the other hand, I like second chances, I perhaps would prefer less mandatory sentencing as mentioned in the article and more flexibility by Federal parole boards for that chance.

Federal Parole was abolished for almost all newly convicted prisoners in 1987.

 

[Richard T]

Federal Parole was abolished for almost all newly convicted prisoners in 1987.

Seems likely it was dwarfed into being called the U.S. Parole Commission. Seems basically the same thing but different name. U.S. Parole Commission