Most people agree that Michael Vick deserves a second chance. Even many pet owners believe that Vick’s prison sentence was punishment, and that he paid his dues to society. So, when President Obama called the Eagles owner and, according to Peter King of Sports Illustrated and told him that Michael Vick, like “So many other people who serve time never get a fair chance,” the President seemed to understand that prison can change a person for the better.
Or did he? While the President, as reported by Bill Burton, a White House spokesperson, also stated “…individuals who pay for their crimes should have an opportunity to contribute to society again,” Mr Obama’s actions seem to say otherwise.
U.S. prisons are filled with people who were sentenced to obscene amounts of time for non-violent crimes, and who, if given the opportunity to be released via a pardon, would happily and productively contribute to society. Yet, President Obama pardoned a mere nine people this year. Nine people out of hundreds of pardon applications he received.
When President Obama was elected, those in the criminal justice reform field sincerely believed that he would make a big difference in overturning antiquated laws that dealt with the failed war on drugs. Some saw President Obama as a savior to those who were unfairly penalized by the crack cocaine law. Admittedly, President Obama signed into law the so-called “Crack Cocaine” bill that eliminated the disparity of sentencing between crack and powder cocaine. But he stopped there.
Because the Crack cocaine law was not retroactive, President Obama had the opportunity to give those who were sentenced before the law was passed the very second chance that he so happily believes Michael Vick deserves. Instead, he pardoned nine people, six of whom Pardon Power reported committed crimes that never even entailed prison sentences.
Many wonder, if President Obama believes that the crack cocaine laws were unjust, why did he not pardon those sitting in prison after being sentenced unjustly? Those in, and out, of prison who believed “ Yes, we can chance the criminal justice system for the better,” are now facing doubts. Some prisoners will keep fighting for a pardon; some will give up. But all will check to see if President Obama goes down in history as the president who offered the least pardons. At this rate, he just might be.
Sources: SI.com and Pardon Power
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