Biden Commutes Sentences Of Nearly 2,500 People Convicted Of Nonviolent Drug Offenses
by Siladitya Ray · ForbesTopline
President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people on Friday—the most in a single day by any president—beating a record he set after he last month granted clemency to around 1,500 people who were serving their sentences at home and 37 federal death row inmates.
Key Facts
Biden said Friday’s clemency covers people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
The president said he believes the people whose sentences he is commuting are “serving disproportionately long sentences” compared to what they would receive “under current law, policy, and practice.”
Biden said the commutations would provide relief to those who were sentenced based on now “discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine.”
With the latest clemency announcement, Biden said he has “now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history.”
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Crucial Quote
“This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars. I am proud of my record on clemency and will continue to review additional commutations and pardons,” Biden’s statement added.
Surprising Fact
With Friday’s announcement, Biden beat a record he set in December for the biggest single-day act of clemency by a U.S. president when he commuted the sentence of nearly 1,500 individuals—including 39 pardons granted to people convicted of nonviolent crimes.
Key Background
In December, Biden granted clemency to nearly 1,500 people, most of whom were placed under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic—after being released from prison to limit the impact of the virus in jails. The commutations covered people who had been serving their sentences at home for at least one year and the announcement said these people had “shown their commitment to rehabilitation by securing employment and advancing their education.” The president also pardoned 39 individuals who had been convicted of non-violent crimes including drug offenses, and had “turned their lives around.” A couple of weeks later, the president commuted the sentences of 37 inmates on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole.” Biden said the decision was motivated by President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to end a moratorium his administration had put in place on federal executions outside of cases involving “terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.” In his announcement, the president said he was guided by his “conscience” and said, “I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.”