Outgoing US President Joe Biden commutes 1,500 sentences in largest single-day act of clemency

The White House described the sweeping clemency as an effort to “help reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals back into society”.

“These commutation recipients have proven they deserve a second chance by reintegrating into their families and communities,” the statement added.

The commutations reduce the sentences of nearly 1,500 people, while the 39 pardons erase guilty verdicts entirely. Those pardoned include individuals convicted of non-violent offences, such as drug-related crimes. Among them are a woman who led emergency response efforts during natural disasters, a church deacon who worked as an addiction and youth counsellor, a doctoral student in molecular biosciences, and a decorated military veteran.

“As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to those who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunities for individuals to contribute to their communities and addressing sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, particularly those convicted of drug offences,” Biden said.

This move comes amidst Republican efforts in Congress to compel thousands of federal prisoners on home release to return to incarceration. Criminal justice advocates have opposed these efforts, highlighting the success of the home release programme, which has seen reoffending rates far below those in federal prisons.

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