Hickenlooper set a bad precedence in commuting Lima's sentence. How does Hickenlooper know Clifton would not have "rehabilitated" himself if he was released early...and similarly how does Hickelooper know Lima would not have perpetrated the same violations as Clifton had he not been released early.
Different circumstances usually result in different actions, reactions and behaviors.
Isn't harsh circumstances and environments a reason given by some for why a person turned out "bad" versus "good", a criminal versus a positive contributor to society?
What mystical powers does Hickenlooper possess that allows him to "read" the heart, soul, and thoughts of a person to determine if they a worthy of commutation.