Upon being arrested, residents in Minnesota must first focus on the defense process knowing that an arrest does not guarantee a conviction. If a person is eventually convicted of a crime, they may well look to the appeal process for additional help. Some people are fortunate enough to get another type of help.
The President of the United States has recently been reviewing a series of criminal convictions involving actions and crimes deemed to be not violent. He has in many cases amended and reduced peoples’ sentences. So far, as many as 672 people have had their criminal sentences cut in some fashion. Two North Dakota men are among the latest people to benefit from this action.
In both cases, selling methamphetamine was part of what led them men to be sentenced to life in prison. The judge in at least one cases indicated he did not agree with the sentence but he was bound by law to follow it. One of the original sentences was made in 2004 and the other more recently in 2011. One man’s sentence will be cut from life to 27 years in prison while the other man’s sentence will be reduced from life to 15 years in prison.
When an arrest happens, it may be beneficial for Minnesota residents to talk to an attorney. This offers the opportunity to learn about the judicial process, what to expect and how to best proceed in the face of serious charges.
Source: Bismark Tribune, “Two N.D. men get commutations from Obama,” Caroline Grueskin, Oct. 12, 2016
