Ohio: Outgoing Governor Strickland grants mercy to 39 convicts; no DR inmate involved in clemency process

Outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland

Outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland has granted clemency to 39 people after a review of 176 cases pending from 2008.

Strickland, a Democrat, issued 33 pardons Tuesday to former inmates and commuted the sentences of 6 convicts. Those still behind bars will become eligible for parole or release. The governor denied clemency in 137 of the 2008 cases.

None of the cases involved the death penalty, and Strickland's office said most are associated with minor or nonviolent offenses.

"Executive clemency power is an important part of our justice system it provides a 2nd chance to those who have earned one and ensures that unusually long sentences are in line with similar cases," Strickland said in a statement. "This process also provides an opportunity to show mercy and forgiveness to those who have recognized what is expected of them in our society and who remain committed to being productive and responsible citizens."

Those granted mercy were convicted of sentences including theft, burglary, passing bad checks, drug trafficking and marijuana possession.

Among case decisions released Tuesday, Strickland sided with the Ohio Parole Board 163 times and parted ways 13 times. Of the 13 cases where he disagreed, 2 were cases where the board had recommended clemency and 11 were cases where the board recommended denying clemency.

Strickland, a former prison psychologist who supports the death penalty, most recently granted clemency in a death penalty case last week, when he spared the life of murderer Sidney Cornwell in part because of the handling of evidence during his trial related to an undiagnosed medical condition that led to developmental and physical issues. Cornwell was the 3rd death row inmate spared execution this year.

In November 2009, Strickland granted clemency to another 78 people in non-death-penalty cases. Those decisions followed a review of 3 years of earlier requests for mercy or pardon that had accumulated.

Source: The Toledo Blade, November 23, 2010

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