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We the people ask the federal government to Propose a new Administration policy:

Pardon Jason Spyres (K99397), an Illinois inmate serving a 30 year ( now on 9th year) sentence on a marijuana charge.

Created by G.A. on September 27, 2011

I was the Officer working around Jason as a supervisor. I am now retired and feel it to be a moral imperative that this man (locked up on a first offense as a teenager) be set free. Nine years locked up more than meet the requirements of most any State. A similar offense in California would have netted a person less than a year. Jason has been the ideal inmate while I worked in the prison and I am confident he will make an excellent free citizen. It makes absolutely no sense to waste tax dollars on Jason's further incarceration.

Response to Petition

Why We Can’t Comment: Jason Spyres

Thank you for signing the petition "Pardon Jason Spyres (K99397), an Illinois inmate serving a 30 year (now on 9th year) sentence on a marijuana charge." We appreciate your participation in the We the People platform on WhiteHouse.gov.

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the President the authority to grant "Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States." For more than 100 years, Presidents have relied on the Department of Justice and its Office of the Pardon Attorney for assistance in the exercise of this power. Requests for executive clemency for federal offenses should be directed to the Pardon Attorney, who conducts a review and investigation, and prepares the Department's recommendation to the President. Additional information and application forms are available on the Pardon Attorney's website.

The President takes his constitutional power to grant clemency very seriously, and recommendations from the Department of Justice are carefully considered before decisions are made. The White House does not comment, however, on individual pardon applications. In accordance with this policy and the We the People Terms of Participation–which explain that the White House may sometimes choose not to respond to petitions addressing certain matters—the White House declines to comment on the specific case addressed in this petition.

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