article_snippet.sent: Eight of those whose sentences were commuted - an act the White House said continues Obama's push to make the justice system fairer - were serving terms of life in prison.
article_snippet.sent: The effort is aimed at reducing harsh sentences for those who faced outdated guidelines at their time of sentencing and would be serving shorter punishments had their been convicted today.
article_snippet.sent: A commutation leaves the conviction in place and ends the punishment.
article_snippet.sent: Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel, said many of the 22 people whose federal sentences will be cut short by Obama action would already have served the 22 people whose federal sentences will be cut short by Mr Obama's action time and paid the debt the 22 people whose federal sentences will be cut short by Mr Obama's action owed society had the 22 people whose federal sentences will be cut short by Mr Obama's action been sentenced under current laws and policies. '
article_snippet.sent: Because many were convicted under an outdated sentencing regime, the 22 people whose federal sentences will be cut short by Mr Obama's action served years - in some cases more than a decade - longer than individuals convicted today of the same crime,' Mr Eggleston said in a post on the White House blog.
article_snippet.sent: The 22 individuals, whose punishments will expire on July 28, were sentenced between 1992 and 2006.
highlights_snippet.sent: Eight of the prisoners granted clemency are serving terms of life in prison .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: The effort targeted sentences handed down under outdated guidelines .
  