President Joe Biden plans to commute the sentences of 1,500 Americans who were released from prison and placed on house arrest during the pandemic and pardon 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes. According to in a White House press release on Thursday.
This would be the largest one-day act of amnesty in modern history.
Just before leaving office in 2017, Biden's predecessor, former President Barack Obama, issued 330 pardons, the second-highest number in a single day.
According to a press release, Mr. Biden will commute these sentences to “demonstrate success in rehabilitation,” demonstrate “a strong commitment to making our communities safer,” and “help others reintegrate into their families and communities.” The plan is to grant amnesty to those who have succeeded.
“As the President has said, America is a nation of second chances,” the press release said. “The President recognizes how clemency powers can advance equal justice under the law and remedy the harm caused by past practices.”
“Together, these actions build on the President's track record of criminal justice reform to help reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals into society,” the press release said. “The president has commuted more sentences at this point in his term than his recent predecessor did at the same point in his first term.”
Just before leaving office in 2017, Biden's predecessor, former President Barack Obama, issued 330 pardons, the second-highest number in a single day.
The Biden administration is focused on granting clemency to people convicted of “nonviolent crimes” and sentenced under “outdated laws, policies, and practices,” according to a press release.
“Federal convictions make it difficult for people to secure housing, jobs, educational opportunities, benefits, and health insurance that are essential to leading healthy and productive lives,” the press release said. There is. “By exercising his pardon power, President Biden has taken steps to open doors of opportunity that would otherwise remain closed to these deserving recipients of a second chance.”
The pardon follows a sweeping pardon that Biden issued to his son Hunter Biden on Dec. 1, reducing Hunter from the federal crimes he was charged with earlier this year. The pardon came under intense bipartisan scrutiny, especially given that the president had repeatedly insisted he would not pardon his son.
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