ProPublica review of pardons in past decade shows process heavily favored whites

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

ProPublica review of pardons in past decade shows process heavily favored whites
By Dafna Linzer and Jennifer LaFleur, Saturday, December 3, 9:59 PM

White criminals seeking presidential pardons over the past decade have been nearly four times as likely to succeed as minorities, a ProPublica examination has found.

Blacks have had the poorest chance of receiving the president’s ultimate act of mercy, according to an analysis of previously unreleased records and related data.

Current and former officials at the White House and Justice Department said they were surprised and dismayed by the racial disparities, which persist even when factors such as the type of crime and sentence are considered.

“I’m just astounded by those numbers,” said Roger Adams, who served as head of the Justice Department’s pardons office from 1998 to 2008. He said he could think of nothing in the office’s practices that would have skewed the recommendations. “I can recall several African Americans getting pardons.’’



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/propublica-review-of-pardons-in-past-decade-shows-process-heavily-favored-whites/2011/11/23/gIQAElnVQO_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

[alp227]

1. ProPublica review of pardons in past decade shows process heavily favored whites

Source: Wash. Post

White criminals seeking presidential pardons over the past decade have been nearly four times as likely to succeed as minorities, a ProPublica examination has found.

Blacks have had the poorest chance of receiving the president’s ultimate act of mercy, according to an analysis of previously unreleased records and related data.

Current and former officials at the White House and Justice Department said they were surprised and dismayed by the racial disparities, which persist even when factors such as the type of crime and sentence are considered.

“I’m just astounded by those numbers,” said Roger Adams, who served as head of the Justice Department’s pardons office from 1998 to 2008. He said he could think of nothing in the office’s practices that would have skewed the recommendations. “I can recall several African Americans getting pardons.’’

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/propublica-review-of-pardons-in-past-decade-shows-process-heavily-favored-whites/2011/11/23/gIQAElnVQO_singlePage.html

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. Duh!

[DissedByBush]

3. Not enough money and connections?

They're not likely to be able to buy a pardon outright like Marc Rich, curry favor with an influential community like Orlando Bosch, or just get payback for covering the president's ass like Scooter Libby.

[krucial]

9. Wow

I am extremely Shocked!!! I tell you, SHOCKED!!!

[No Elephants]

4. Has any study of our "justice" system ever shown favoritism to people of color?

[jtuck004]

5. “I can recall several African Americans getting pardons.’’

That's because they are the exception, the few, Rog.

[Lars77]

6. ProPublica review of pardons in past decade shows process heavily favored whites

Source: Washington Post

White criminals seeking presidential pardons over the past decade have been nearly four times as likely to succeed as minorities, a ProPublica examination has found.

Blacks have had the poorest chance of receiving the president’s ultimate act of mercy, according to an analysis of previously unreleased records and related data.

Current and former officials at the White House and Justice Department said they were surprised and dismayed by the racial disparities, which persist even when factors such as the type of crime and sentence are considered.

“I’m just astounded by those numbers,” said Roger Adams, who served as head of the Justice Department’s pardons office from 1998 to 2008. He said he could think of nothing in the office’s practices that would have skewed the recommendations. “I can recall several African Americans getting pardons.’’

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/propublica-review-of-pardons-in-past-decade-shows-process-heavily-favored-whites/2011/11/23/gIQAElnVQO_story.html

[ret5hd]

7. "i can recall several african americans getting pardons" = some of my best friends are black!

[Enthusiast]

8. Exactly.