In a historic move, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he has commuted the sentences of almost 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. This unprecedented action takes place during his final days in office, marking a significant effort to address and rectify long-standing issues within the criminal justice system.
The Associated Press reported that this series of clemency actions sets a new presidential record for the most individual pardons and commutations issued. President Biden emphasized his commitment to undoing \"disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.\"
\"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who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,\" Biden stated. He further added that this initiative is a crucial step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and offering deserving individuals the opportunity to reunite with their families and communities after serving excessive time in prison.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
