By Colin H. Gilbert
CGILBERT@DGAALAW.COM
(847) 934-6000 Ext 12
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released changes to the rules that govern which offenders are eligible for clemency. Clemency is a power granted to the President under the Constitution that allows him to affect the sentences of federal inmates. Clemency comes in two forms, a pardon or a commutation of a sentence.
The New Rules
The new rules released by the DOJ do not replace the old clemency standards, but instead expand on them. They are mainly targeted at drug offenders, but could apply to any inmate with a conviction for any low-level nonviolent offense. There are now six criteria that the DOJ will examine. While meeting these criteria does not necessarily qualify an inmate for clemency, the DOJ has stated that they would “prioritize” clemency applications from people in these categories since they believe that they may be “especially meritorious.”To read more, click on the following link; http://www.dgaalaw.com/dgaablawg/department-of-justice-expands-clemency-opportunities
About the Author: Founding partner of Drost, Gilbert, Andrew & Apicella, LLC, Colin Gilbert, received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of law in 2005. Colin argues cases across many practice areas including criminal defense, collections, civil litigation, real estate law, and corporate law. Colin is an active member of the Board of Governors of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and the Illinois Creditors Bar Association. He is currently Vice President of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, and is a Commissioner for the Village of Arlington Heights. Colin has a 10.0 Attorney rating on Avvo, and was named one of the 2014 “Top 40 Under 40” Trial Lawyers in Illinois by the National Trial Lawyers Association.
