Gov. Steve Bullock Only Approved 1 of 40 Clemency Requests

Since a new law allowing the governor to grant clemency to inmates who have been denied by the Board of Pardons and Parole went into effect in October Gov. Steve Bullock has only acted on one request.

NBC Montana reports the Board of Parole has received 40 applications for executive clemency since the law took effect Oct. 1. Of the 40, the board forwarded 22 applications to the governor's office. Barry Beach's request was granted and three others were denied.

Parole board officials say the remaining applications of the original 40 are still being reviewed.

Bullock in November commuted Beach's 100-year prison sentence for the beating death of a 17-year-old high school classmate. The clemency law was inspired by his case.