James M. Cole Deputy Attorney General James Cole announced at a press conference Wednesday the parameters of the Department of Justice's new clemency initiative for federal prisoners. Only those who have served at least 10 years of their sentences, have not engaged in violence while incarcerated, are not drug kingpins or associated with gangs or cartels will be eligible for clemency. Given how difficult avoiding violence can be, the criteria for clemency sharply limit how many prisoners could be released.