How many people did President Obama grant clemency to during his presidency, primarily focused on nonviolent drug offenders?

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Barack Obama granted clemency to 1,927 individuals during his presidency: 1,715 commutations (including 504 life sentences) and 212 pardons. The majority were nonviolent drug offenders sentenced under outdated and harsh laws. Obama launched the 2014 Clemency Initiative, which resulted in 1,696 commutations with an average sentence reduction of 140 months (nearly 12 years). His administration received more than 36,000 clemency petitions—far more than any previous president. Obama granted more commutations than the previous 13 presidents combined. In contrast, Trump's pardons focused heavily on politically connected individuals rather than systematic review of unjust sentences, highlighting how presidents exercise this unlimited power in vastly different ways.

How many people did President Obama grant clemency to during his presidency, primarily focused on nonviolent drug offenders?

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