COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has granted clemency to 78 inmates after a painstaking review of three years of requests extending into his predecessor's term.
Most of the 68 people granted pardons have already served their time. The 10 whose sentences were commuted are mostly behind bars and expecting release. Among them is a Toledo gang member whose judge openly expressed second thoughts about Willie Knighten Jr.'s conviction.
Strickland, a former prison psychologist, says he personally reviewed all 296 applications. He estimated that he, his chief legal counsel Kent Markus, and staff members put in 1,000 hours reviewing the requests, made between 2005 and 2007.
Strickland now turns to 177 cases recommended for clemency in 2008 by the parole board, then to 226 requests made this year.
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