US President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offences three days before he leaves the White House.
Biden stated the offenders were “serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.” In his statement on Friday, he emphasised that he had pardoned and commuted sentences more “than any other president in US history.”
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.
The move came after Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates. The outgoing president also made a number of commutations and pardons in December, including for his son Hunter Biden.
I am proud of my record on clemency and will continue to review additional commutations and pardons.
