DENNIS CAUCHON

Clemency exists for reasons of "humanity and good policy" and to provide "easy access to exceptions." The founders gave the president solo, unfettered clemency "responsibility" (Hamilton's word) because governments naturally tend to make criminal law overly severe, and one person "appears to be a more eligible dispenser of the mercy of government, than a body of men.

... transfer clemency reviews out of the Justice Department and put them in the Department of Health and Human Services.... The department that prosecuted a case and advocated for a sentence is not the appropriate one to conduct a neutral clemency review.

... transfer clemency reviews out of the Justice Department and put them in the Department of Health and Human Services.... The department that prosecuted a case and advocated for a sentence is not the appropriate one to conduct a neutral clemency review.

Clemency exists for reasons of "humanity and good policy" and to provide "easy access to exceptions." The founders gave the president solo, unfettered clemency "responsibility" (Hamilton's word) because governments naturally tend to make criminal law overly severe, and one person "appears to be a more eligible dispenser of the mercy of government, than a body of men.