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Obama Pardons Two Turkeys, No Prisoners in 2012
Barack Obama has served as president since January 2009. From that time until the end of 2012, he has issued just 22 pardons and one commutation of sentence.
His first nine pardons, on December 3, 2010, mainly went to people who had received probation or short prison terms for minor …
His first nine pardons, on December 3, 2010, mainly went to people who had received probation or short prison terms for minor …
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More from this issue:
- Forms of Judicial Deference in Prison Law, by Sharon Dolovich
- Louisiana Public Service Commission Votes to Lower Prison and Jail Phone Rates, by Mel Motel
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- FBI Reports Drop in Violent Crime; DOJ Reports Increase
- Venezuelan TV Station Fined $2.16 Million for Prison Reporting, by Matthew Clarke
- Dramatic Increase in Percentage of Criminal Cases Being Plea Bargained, by Matthew Clarke
- Pennsylvania: Former BOP Warden Pleads Guilty to Cover-up
- Despite Budget Crunch, Texas Rarely Grants Medical Paroles, by Matthew Clarke
- Iraqi Prison Breaks Likely Inside Jobs
- Contraband Smuggling a Problem at Prisons and Jails Nationwide, by Matthew Clarke
- NH Corrections Officer, Suspended After Fight, Obtains Back Pay Plus $250,000 in Damages and Attorney Fees
- California Lawsuit Challenges Voting Prohibition on County-level Offenders
- Louisiana Sex Offender Internet Restrictions Unconstitutional
- Law Enforcement Forfeiture Corruption Scandal in Michigan Includes Police Chief
- Massachusetts Prisoners Receive Refunds for Illegal Fees Imposed by Sheriff
- Obama Pardons Two Turkeys, No Prisoners in 2012, by Derek Gilna
- Scientific Advances in Arson Investigations Reveal Wrongful Convictions, by Michael Rigby
- Georgia Judge Removed from Bench for Misconduct, Files Lawsuit Claiming Conspiracy
- Virginia Considers Privatizing State’s Civil Commitment Center, by Joe Watson
- New Mexico Slaps Private Prison Companies with $1.4 Million in Fines
- States Seek Federal Medicaid Reimbursements to Offset Prison Medical Costs
- Oregon-Washington Prison Employee Logs 19-Hour Days
- Nation’s Largest Private Prison Companies Trying to Do the REIT Thing
- Tenth Circuit Cites PLN Case in Denying Oklahoma Newspaper’s FOIA Request
- California and Oregon Prison Guards Fire Shots to Break up Fights
- North Carolina Governor Pardons Wilmington 10
- Cook County, Illinois Lowers Jail Phone Rates, by Mel Motel
- California: Del Norte County DA Described as “Idiotic”
- 9th Circuit: Class-action by Civilly Committed Sexually Violent Predators May Proceed on Claims for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
- First Circuit: RLUIPA Does Not Provide Relief from Transfer to Remote Prison where Opportunities for Religious Exercise are Limited
- News in Brief
More from Derek Gilna:
- Federal Judge in Louisiana Issues Sweeping Opinion Finding Numerous Eighth Amendment, ADA and RA Violations at Angola, April 1, 2022
- Human Rights Defense Center Prevails in Censorship Lawsuit Against Napa County Jail, California, Sept. 1, 2021
- California State Auditor’s Report Faults Counties for Waste and Poor Oversight of State Funds Used in “Public Safety Realignment”, Sept. 1, 2021
- The Fight Over Cellphones in Prisons Rages On, Sept. 1, 2021
- District Court Extends Armstrong Order to Five Additional California Prisons, Sept. 1, 2021
- HRDC Settles Censorship Lawsuit with Johnson County, Kansas Jail for $50,000 and Policy Changes, Aug. 1, 2021
- Virginia Prosecutors to Dismiss 400 Drug Convictions Tied to Disgraced Cop, July 15, 2021
- Discredited New York Police Detective’s False Testimony Causes the Dismissal of Close to 100 Drug Convictions, June 15, 2021
- D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences Firearms Examination Unit Under Fire, April 15, 2021
- Mississippi Joins Illinois and Few Other States Prioritizing Vaccination of State Prisoners to Slow Spread of COVID-19, April 1, 2021
More from these topics:
- Federal Death Row Prisoners Granted Clemency by Biden Are Facing Retaliation by Trump, Feb. 1, 2026. Transfers, Pardons/Clemency, Death Row, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Confinement in Segregated Housing.
- Eighth Circuit Announces Presidential Commutation Does Not Moot Challenge to Underlying Sentence, Jan. 1, 2026. Pardons/Clemency, First Step Act, Qualifying Offenses, Sentence Enhancements/Departures, Authority and Jurisdiction.
- Oklahoma Prisoner Found Unconscious in Cell Hours After Avoiding Execution, Dec. 1, 2025. Public Defenders, Pardons/Clemency, Life without Parole (LWOP), Death Penalty, Effective Assistance of Counsel.
- Ex-Wife of Minnesota DOC Commissioner Sentenced for Poisoning Attempt on Son, Dec. 1, 2025. Out of State Transfers, Sentencing, Conspiracies, Attempts, Solicitations, Confessions and Statements of Defendant, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- Missouri Blocks Spiritual Advisors from Prison Pastor’s Execution, Nov. 1, 2025. Pardons/Clemency, Death Penalty, Lethal Injection Method of Execution, Religious Freedom/Worship, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
- SCOTUS Overturns Oklahoma Prisoner’s Death Sentence After More than 25 Years on Death Row, Nov. 1, 2025. Ex Post Facto, Good Time, Wrongful Conviction, Habeas Corpus, Wrongful Imprisonment, Pardons/Clemency, First Step Act, Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), Specific Offenses, Controlled Substances, Weapons, Accuracy of Information, Depraved Indifference Murder, Evidence - Circumstantial, Theft, Failure to Disclose, Perjury/Perjured Testimony, Evidence - Failure to Disclose, New Trial - Motions for, Pleas Linked to Cooperation, Evidence - Destruction/Fabrication/Manipulation of, Selective Prosecution/Enforcement, Improper Comments, Official Report, Withholding of Exculpatory Evidence, Exculpatory Evidence - Disclosure Obligations.
- DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions in Texas Juvenile Detention, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Sentencing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Juvenile Prisons.
- Former Prisoner Informant Appointed Deputy Director of BOP, July 15, 2025. Prison Reform, Criminal justice system reform, Informants, War on Drugs, Pardons/Clemency, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Trading Guns for Drugs.
- Trump Pardons Virginia Sheriff Convicted of a Bribes-for-Badges Scheme, July 15, 2025. Misconduct/Corruption, Pardons/Clemency, Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- Tennessee Board of Parole Spanked for Failing to Make Recommendation to Governor on Prisoner’s Clemency Application, July 15, 2025. Parole Board Misconduct, Pardons/Clemency, Probation, Parole & Supervised Release, Release Decisions.

