During Mr. Obama’s first term, he exercised his clemency powers three times, issuing a total of 22 pardons and one commutation. He also denied 1,019 applications for a pardon and 3,793 applications for commutation. His rate of approvals was unusually low, by historical standards, based on statistics dating to 1900, on the Justice Department Web site. Margaret Colgate Love, a former United States pardon lawyer who now represents clemency seekers, including 2 of the 17 people who received pardons on Friday, said she was pleased that Mr. Obama had quickly granted a number in his second term and hoped he would do so more regularly in coming years.

“There are thousands of deserving ordinary Americans who have long since paid their debt to society but remain burdened by legal and social restrictions, and are seeking to put their past behind them,” she said.

The five pardon recipients who had been sentenced to imprisonment, ranging from 54 days to five years, were James A. Bordinaro of Gloucester, Mass., 1991, in connection with a bid-rigging conviction; Michael J. Petri of Montrose, S.D., 1989, distributing cocaine; Donald B. Simon Jr., of Chattanooga, Tenn., 1982, aiding and abetting in the theft of an interstate shipment; Lynn Marie Stanek of Tualatin, Ore., 1986, unlawful use of a communication facility to distribute cocaine; and Donna Kaye Wright of Friendship, Tenn., 1983, embezzlement.

The 12 who were sentenced only to probation, a fine or a few months of home confinement included Robert L. Bebee of Rockville, Md., 1979, for misprision, or concealing a crime; Kelli Elisabeth Collins of Harrison, Ark., 1994, aiding and abetting wire fraud; Edwin H. Futch Jr., of Pembroke, Ga., 1976, theft; Cindy Marie Griffith of Moyock, N.C., 2000, distributing satellite television decryption devices; Roy E. Grimes Sr., of Athens, Tenn., 1961, forging a money order; Jon C. Kozeliski of Decatur, Ill., 1994, conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods; Jimmy Ray Mattison of Anderson, S.C., 1969, transporting altered securities; An Na Peng of Honolulu, 1996, conspiracy to defraud the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Karen Alicia Ragee of Decatur, Ill., 1994, conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods; Jamari Salleh of Alexandria, Va., 1989, false claims against the United States; Alfor Sharkey of Omaha, 1994, unauthorized acquisition of food stamps; and Larry W. Thornton of Forsyth, Ga., 1974, possession of an unregistered firearm and a firearm without a serial number.