Arkansas governor will pardon son

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe (D) will pardon his son’s 2003 felony conviction for marijuana possession, according to reports.

“I would have done it a long time ago if he’d have asked, but he took his sweet time about asking,” Beebe said, according to CNN. “He was embarrassed. He’s still embarrassed, and frankly, I was embarrassed and his mother was embarrassed.

His son’s pardon was recommended by the state’s parole board last month.

{mosads}Kyle Beebe, 34, was convicted of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver in 2003. He served three years of supervised probation, paid a fine and had his drivers license suspended as a result of the conviction.

Kyle Beebe wrote his father a letter as part of his application.

“Mr. Governor, I am asking for a second chance at life. I am asking for a second chance to be the man that I know that I can be,” he wrote, according to CNN

Recently, policymakers in Washington have been taking a closer look at the criminal justice system.

This year, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced legislation aimed at reforming the criminal justice system. One provision would lift the ban on certain government benefits for some low-level drug offenders.