“Biden Makes History with Record-Breaking Clemency: 1,500 Sentences Commuted and 39 Pardons Granted in Single-Day Justice Move”
In an unprecedented act of mercy, President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals who had been released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Biden has granted pardons to 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes, marking the largest single-day clemency action in modern U.S. history.
This historic move targets those who had already served at least one year of home confinement, many of whom were originally released to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in overcrowded and unsanitary prison conditions. At the height of the pandemic, prisons became hotbeds for the virus, with reports showing that one in five prisoners contracted COVID-19, which led to a temporary, emergency release of many inmates to reduce the risk of mass infections.
Biden’s decision to grant clemency is part of his ongoing commitment to justice reform, focusing particularly on those convicted of nonviolent offenses. “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement. “As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation.” His statement also highlighted his administration’s efforts to address sentencing disparities, particularly for individuals convicted of drug offenses.