Story highlights Obama has argued that laws requiring mandatory minimum sentences for those types of crimes are unfair

In all, Obama has commuted the sentences for 306 prisoners

Washington (CNN) President Barack Obama on Thursday shortened the prison sentences for dozens of additional drug offenders, the latest in an ongoing attempt to rein in lengthy punishments for non-violent crimes.

The White House said Obama had approved reduced sentences for 58 individuals. All but one had been convicted of drug-related crimes, many of them involving the distribution of "cocaine base," or crack.

Obama has argued that laws requiring mandatory minimum sentences for those types of crimes are unfair and has sought to reduce the prison terms for individuals who would already be free under current guidelines.

"As a country, we have to make sure that those who take responsibility for their mistakes are able to transition back to their communities," Obama wrote in a post on the website Medium on Thursday. "It's the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do. And it's something I will keep working to do as long as I hold this office."

In all, Obama has commuted the sentences for 306 prisoners, including 110 people who were serving life sentences. That's well beyond the commutation records of previous presidents, though Obama has granted fewer pardons, which would restore some rights back to convicted felons.

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