Biden frees thousands jailed for non-violent drug crimes


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President Biden announced a sweeping clemency initiative Friday, commuting sentences for 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses that his administration considers excessively harsh.

This latest round of clemency actions establishes Biden as the president who has granted the most individual pardons and commutations, with his son Hunter – who faced legal troubles related to tax and firearm charges – among those receiving relief.

Earlier in December, Biden had taken significant action by commuting the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, leaving only three facing capital punishment.

The President explained his motivation, stating that these individuals had received punishments that were disproportionate compared to current legal standards and practices.

“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who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said in a statement.

“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.”

Notably, as a Senator, Biden had played a key role in establishing the 1986 legislation that created these sentencing disparities, though he later supported their elimination, which occurred in 2022.

The administration has yet to release the identities of those receiving commutations.

This latest action follows Biden’s previous clemency initiative last month, when he commuted sentences for approximately 1,500 individuals who had been released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also pardoned 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent offenses, marking the largest single-day clemency action in recent American history.