In his final days as president, Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses. This substantial act of clemency focuses on those serving lengthy sentences disproportionate to current legal standards, particularly concerning past discrepancies between crack and powder cocaine sentencing, as well as outdated enhancements for drug-related crimes.

This move aims to address historical inequities in sentencing and provide a second chance for these individuals to reintegrate into their communities and families. The president emphasized that this action aligns with the spirit of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 and the First Step Act of 2018, seeking to rectify past disparities. This decision significantly surpasses clemency grants by previous presidents, setting a new historical precedent.

While Biden's clemency actions have garnered considerable attention, they have also sparked controversy. His recent commutation of sentences for 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without parole, as well as the pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, for potential past and future offenses, have drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. The president also highlighted a prior large-scale clemency grant in December, involving 1,500 commutations and 39 pardons, largely related to individuals already under home confinement due to COVID-19 measures.

Biden expressed pride in his clemency record and indicated his intention to continue reviewing cases for potential pardons and commutations leading up to his departure from office. According to the Department of Justice, thousands of pardon and commutation applications remain pending.