Eight of the prisoners granted clemency are serving terms of life in prison . They were jailed for crimes including cocaine , meth and heroin distribution . The effort targeted sentences handed down under outdated guidelines . Obama has approved 43 commutations in 240 months in office .
Eight of the prisoners granted clemency are serving terms of life in prison . They were jailed for crimes including cocaine , meth and heroin distribution . The effort targeted sentences handed down under outdated guidelines . Obama has approved 43 commutations in six years in office .