President Barack Obama has rarely used his power to pardon people convicted of crimes. The Justice Department says that’s about to change. It gave federal inmates hope by publishing new criteria last week. If you are a low-level drug offender with no history of violence or ties to organized crime, and you’ve served at least 10 years, then you’ve got a chance. Now the department is bracing for thousands of petitions. John Malcolm, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp why presidential pardons have declined over the years.

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