Quinn grants clemency to 50

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Updated: July 23, 2011 2:06AM

Gov. Pat Quinn granted clemency Friday to 50 people who had mostly non-violent convictions that included shoplifting, underage drinking and drug possession.

The pardons and expungements bring to 517 the number of clemency petitions Quinn has granted since taking office in 2009.

“This action marks another step in a series of clemency decisions aimed at eliminating a backlog of more than 2,500 cases that built up during the previous administration,” according to a statement from the governor’s office announcing the governor’s moves.

— Dave McKinney