President Barrack Obama grants clemency to 8 convicted drug offenders and issues absolute pardon to 12 other people with varied offenses Wednesday, Dec. 17.

A pardon nullifies a conviction without really erasing it, while a commutation leaves the sentence and concludes the punishment.

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The verdicts involving drug-related cases cover a stretch of 16 years of imprisonment down to life sentences. The commutation of these custody rulings is said to be Obama's initiative to shorten the sentences of some drug crimes especially the ones that involve cocaine abuse, says a White House official.

The commutation is specifically significant as it is a reflection of a statement made early this year about how the Obama administration intends to lower the cost of the country's prison budget by reducing the growing detention population.

Deputy Atty. Gen. James Cole, who made the statement in April, further states that the Obama plan reflects an assurance and a commitment to bring equality and fairness to the United State's criminal justice system.

Incidentally, Pres. Obama also issues total pardon to 12 other people who were once involved with misconduct incidents ranging from illegal alcohol business to bank fund theft.

In his entire presidency, Obama has already been able to grant 21 commutations and 64 parons to convicted felons.

During Pres. Clinton's time, he was able to issue 396 pardons and 61 commutations. Pres. George W. Bush, on the other hand keeps a record of 189 pardons and 11 commutations.

Among the pardoned individuals last Wednesday, 2 are from the president's hometown Illinois including Brian Edward Sledz. Sledz was a former CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) member who was arrested and sentenced in 1993 for fraud.

David Neil Mercer, a Grand Junction, Colorado resident, was also among the pardoned prisoners last Wednesday. He was put to prison in 1997 under a 36-month probationary period after having been involved in destroying remnants of American-Indian properties.

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