Taking the world by storm, Netflix's latest docuseries follows the trial of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, a pair prosecuted for the murder of Teresa Halbach and each sentenced to life in prison.
Steven Avery / Credit: Netflix
Those watching the series took to the government's We The People website, which features petitions from members of the public, with those that exceed 100,000 signatures being addressed by The White House within 30 days.
After reaching the target, the petition - 'Pardon Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey for their alleged involvement in the murder of Teresa Halbach' - gained its response.
The statement from the White House reads: "Under the constitution, only federal criminal convictions, such as those adjudicated in the United States District Courts, may be pardoned by the President.
"In addition, the President's pardon power extends to convictions adjudicated in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and military court-martial proceedings. However, the President cannot pardon a state criminal offence."
Because of this and because of Avery's and Dassey's status as state prisoners, the President is powerless when it comes to freeing the pair. Despite not giving the petitionees the result they want, the White House does acknowledge failings in the justice system.
It continues: "While the case is out of the Administration's purview, President Obama is committed to restoring the sense of fairness at the heart of our justice system. That's why he has granted 184 commutations total - more than the last five presidents combined - and has issued 66 pardons over his time in office."
Whilst Avery has no chance of parole and will spend the rest of his life behind bars, Dassey will become eligible for parole on October 31, 2048.
Avery had previously served 18 years in prison for a sexuala ssault he did not commit, exonerated by DNA evidence in 2003 before being arrested and convicted of Halbach's murder two years later.
Tagged in Making A Murderer