President Biden Announces Commutation of Sentences for Over 2,000 Non-Violent Drug Offenders

On Friday, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences for nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses, citing this action as historic for issuing pardons. 

Biden’s Statement: In his statement, Biden urged updates to outdated sentencing disparities through the Fair Sentencing Act, a federal law aimed at reducing sentences for crack cocaine offenses. 

• “As Congress recognized through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, it is time that we equalize these sentencing disparities,” Biden said. With the action, Biden added that he has “now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history.”
• “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who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” he said. Biden said the action will help right “historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities.”

For Context: Last month, Biden commuted about 1,500 sentences, including 37 people on death row, and issued pardons for 39 people. His recent clemency actions came after nearly two dozen congressional Democrats pushed him to commute sentences of people affected by sentencing disparities. Justice Department data shows that incoming President Donald Trump issued 144 pardons during his first term, compared to President Barack Obama, who issued 212 pardons over two terms. Biden could take more clemency action before he leaves office Monday.

How The Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum highlighted how the Fair Sentencing Act aimed to reduce sentencing for certain drug offenses. Some sources across the spectrum mentioned how Biden was criticized for also pardoning his son, Hunter, in December. Left- and Center-rated outlets were more likely to note that Biden has now pardoned and commuted more sentences than any other president.