Newsweek
Quote:
U.S. President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of around 1,500 people who were released from prison to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the largest single-day clemency action in the country's modern history.
Biden also pardoned 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes in an effort to promote second chances and address the problems with the nation's criminal justice system.
The commutations, announced on Thursday, affect those who have served at least one year under home confinement after being released from prison to reduce the spread of the virus.
U.S. prisons became hotspots for COVID-19, with one in five prisoners testing positive at the height of the crisis.
Why Has US President Joe Biden Commuted the Sentences of so Many People?
Biden framed the decision as a crucial step in restoring dignity and opportunity to those who have shown remorse and made efforts toward rehabilitation.
He said "America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances. As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities."
The 39 people pardoned include those convicted of nonviolent offenses, including drug crimes.
Among them are a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters, a church deacon who became an addiction and youth counselor, and a decorated military veteran, according to the White House.
How Significant Is Biden's Clemency?
The move marks the largest single-day clemency action in modern U.S. history. The second largest clemency action was by Barack Obama when he issued 330 commutations in his final days in office.
Biden's focus on nonviolent offenders and those who have turned their lives around aligns with his stated broader commitment to criminal justice reform.
His actions come amid mounting pressure from advocates and lawmakers for a broader use of his pardon power.
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