Official announcements from the White House or the Department of Justice

Biden Sets Record, Commutes 2,500 Nonviolent Drug Sentences in Largest Single-Day Clemency

Jan 17, 2025, 10:54 AM

President Biden announced on Friday that he is commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, making this the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history. With this action, he has issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history. The move aims to address sentencing disparities related to old drug laws, including those for crack cocaine-related crimes. This significant clemency action comes as one of his final acts before leaving office.