We’re disappointed, even outraged at outgoing Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s decision to pardon 208 convicted felons on his way out of the governor’s mansion.

Barbour provided clemency to more than 40 individuals charged in killings. Of those, 35 received full, unconditional pardons. Each of those folks will walk the streets now.

The victims are outraged, as well they should be.

With little to no warning, their feelings that justice has been served in their cases have been turned upside down as Barbour unlocked the prison doors for the felons.

Such a move is a slap in the face to victims, the state’s criminal justice system as well as other, perhaps less politically connected, families with a relative serving prison time.

Barbour apparently thinks he knows more than the hundreds of jurors and dozens of judges involved in the cases.

The move is a disgusting one that taints our image of Barbour and his legacy as a leader of our state.

People remember the high points and the low points of a person’s life and for Barbour, we’ll remember his leadership during Katrina — we cannot take that from him — and now, sadly, his inexplicable abuse of gubernatorial pardoning power.