President Biden concludes his term with a record-breaking number of pardons and commutations, focusing on individuals serving lengthy sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. He emphasizes the need to correct historical injustices and sentencing disparities.
President Biden concluded his term with a historic wave of clemency actions, commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses . This marks the highest number of individual pardons and commutations issued by any president. Biden emphasized that these sentences were disproportionately long compared to what individuals would receive today under current laws and practices.
He specifically targeted those who received lengthy sentences due to outdated distinctions between crack and powder cocaine and for outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes. 'Today's clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,' Mr. Biden stated. '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.' While the White House did not immediately disclose the names of those receiving commutations, Biden hinted at further action, promising to continue reviewing additional commutations and pardons before President-elect Trump's inauguration. This wave of clemency follows Biden's previous actions, including commuting the sentences of approximately 1,500 people released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes—the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. Biden is also reportedly considering sweeping pardons for officials and allies who he fears could be unfairly targeted by the incoming Trump administration, though this would be an unprecedented and potentially controversial move. This comes amidst numerous other high-profile clemency actions, including commuting the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row and pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, for potential federal offenses. Biden's actions mirror a historic trend of presidents issuing targeted pardons to allies in their final days in office
CLEMENCY PRESIDENT BIDEN DRUG OFFENSES PARDONS COMMUTATIONS SENTENCING DISPARITIES HISTORIC WRONGS
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