Elizabeth G. Oyer: The President has this incredibly important power
to grant second chances with the stroke of a pen. For many individuals with a felony conviction, the
consequences of their conviction last a lifetime. A Presidential pardon is a powerful
act of forgiveness that opens up a host of new doors for individuals with
felony convictions on their records. In the Office of the Pardon Attorney, we see a
lot of clemency applications from individuals who were sentenced at the height of the war
on drugs – under mandatory minimum sentencing laws and with recidivist enhancements that in
many cases result in mandatory life sentences. We receive a huge number of applications
in which it’s really clear that the applicant would receive a much lower
sentence if they were sentenced today. Evans Ray, Jr.: I mean I don’t think anybody can really imagine
what it is to have life plus ten years. So, in the penitentiary when you get life plus
ten years, or in the feds, that’s life, that’s what you do. It’s no
parole. That’s where you die. Elizabeth G. Oyer: Thinking about criminal sentencing has changed
significantly since the height of the war on drugs, over the last several decades. And the
President is in the position with his clemency power to correct some of the injustices
that resulted from those prosecutions. I think that it’s incredibly important
in order to make good policy and good decisions that you have multiple, different
perspectives. And, as a former public defender, I’ve had different life experiences and
therefore have a different perspective than many individuals who have worked in the
Department of Justice for their whole careers. One thing that I’ve really appreciated
about the office is that every person who works there is there because
they believe in the mission. Rosalind Sargent-Burns: Our staff is made up of people with legal
backgrounds, people with non legal backgrounds. The one thing that we do share is
that we all believe in second chances. Evans Ray, Jr.: March of 2007, is when I went in
front of Judge Alexander Williams and Judge Alexander Williams told me
that, “Mr. Ray, my hands are tied.” Judge Williams wrote a letter to the Department
of Justice and to the President of the United States on my behalf stating how he felt
like it was an unfair sentence for me. Elizabeth G. Oyer: The clemency power is just the ultimate tool
to achieve justice. And I’ve been in awe of this power since my days litigating, and to
be part of the process of granting clemency, is really just something that I still sort
of can’t believe I’ve been entrusted to do. Rosalind Sargent-Burns: If you’re granted commutation, you’re
granted freedom from confinement. If you’re granted pardon, you’re granted
forgiveness and restoration of civil liberties. Elizabeth G. Oyer: A pardon does not expunge a conviction from
your record, but it does restore your civil rights. So for many people, receiving a
pardon can mean regaining the right to vote. Rosalind Sargent-Burns: On the commutation side, it means reunion.
It means reuniting someone with their family, with their children or grandchildren,
their parents, their siblings. It means reuniting them with their community. Evans Ray, Jr.: It allowed me to be able to come home, see my grandmother, Miss Lola Ray
Lam, before she left this earth. Elizabeth G. Oyer: It’s a big deal to get a commutation from the
President. And we want to see that somebody’s going to get back out there and make the most
of the second chance that they’ve been given. Evans Ray, Jr.: The men and women that have come up
for clemency, please do what you have to do in those penitentiaries or those
jails. Don’t let nobody talk you out of filling out that paperwork. Don’t let your
best friend tell you it ain’t worth it, cause I’m here to tell you all that it’s worth it. Elizabeth G. Oyer: People should absolutely keep the applications coming. Rosalind Sargent-Burns: The favorite part of my job is grant day. It is our ‘yes’ day. It’s the
day that we get to call a recipient and let them know they have been granted clemency from
the President. And to give that call that says, congratulations, you’ve been granted
clemency from the President, there’s just nothing as professionally rewarding as that. For more information, go to Justice.gov/Pardon
