Gov. Laura Kelly has granted clemency to seven people , including pardons of five people who long ago completed their sentences and commuted sentences for two incarcerated people.
The case of a newborn child murder by a teenage mother — which brought attention to the Kansas safe haven law — is the most high profile.
Records show that some pardons were for crime committed decades ago, for which the sentences have long since been served. In some cases, the subjects later served in the military. In another, the case was a child sex crime where the victim and the perpetrator were both teenagers.
“Granting commutations and pardons is not something I take lightly,” Kelly said in a statement. “By vetting numerous applications through a careful and thorough process, it was determined that these individuals have demonstrated their commitment to making amends and positively contributing to society.
“In cases where a disproportionally harsh sentence is imposed or a miscarriage of justice exists, commutation can be a tool to ensure reasonable action and a fairer sentence. In extraordinary cases where the criminal justice system failed to account for mitigating factors surrounding an individual’s alleged crime throughout the legal process, including sentencing, commutations can give a second chance to individuals experiencing incomprehensible circumstances at the time of their offense.”