<P> By the end of his presidency on January 20 , 2017 , Barack Obama had exercised his constitutional power to grant executive clemency -- that is , `` pardon , commutation of sentence , remission of fine or restitution , and reprieve '' -- to 1,927 individuals convicted of federal crimes . Of the acts of clemency , 1,715 were commutations ( including 504 life sentences ) and 212 were pardons . Most individuals granted executive clemency by Obama had been convicted on drug charges , and had received lengthy and sometimes mandatory sentences at the height of the War on Drugs . </P>
<P> By the end of his presidency on January 20 , 2017 , Barack Obama had exercised his constitutional power to grant executive clemency -- that is , `` pardon , commutation of sentence , remission of fine or restitution , and reprieve '' -- to 1,927 individuals convicted of federal crimes . Of the acts of clemency , 1,715 were commutations ( including 504 life sentences ) and 212 were pardons . Most individuals granted executive clemency by Obama had been convicted on drug charges , and had received lengthy and sometimes mandatory sentences at the height of the War on Drugs . </P>
what is it called when the president commutes a prison sentence
what is it called when the president commutes a prison sentence
executive clemency
executive clemency