California Gov. Jerry Brown has pardoned 63 people, most of whom were serving time for drug crimes.
Brown, a Democrat, announced the pardons Friday in a statement, according to the Huffington Post. More than 40 people had been serving time for drug crimes. Others were convicted of crimes like burglary and robbery.
“The individuals granted pardons all completed their sentences and have been released from custody for more than a decade without further criminal activity,” the statement said.
The pardoned individuals have “demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction. Pardons are not granted unless they are earned,” the statement added.
Many of those pardoned by Brown have since become active in their communities, working as drug counselors or volunteering.
Brown has granted more than 300 pardons since taking office in 2011. The previous three governors granted 29 over 20 years.
Meredith Clark
Meredith Clark is a freelance writer and editor. She was previously a senior news producer for "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj," a reporter with MSNBC.com, the digital politics and culture editor at Glamour and a senior news and politics editor at Refinery29. She has written for Vulture, Rolling Stone, Self, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast and Bustle.