Official announcements from the White House or Department of Justice

Biden Commutes Sentences of 2,500 Nonviolent Drug Offenders, Addressing Sentencing Disparities and Setting Clemency Record

Jan 17, 2025, 02:07 PM

President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he is commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history. This significant move sets a new record for the most individual pardons and commutations issued by any U.S. president. "With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history," President Biden stated. The individuals receiving commutations were serving disproportionately long sentences compared to what they would receive today under current law. The action aims to address sentencing disparities, particularly those related to crack and powder cocaine offenses, and is seen as a step towards rectifying historic injustices in the criminal justice system. This clemency action follows his previous commutation of about 1,500 sentences last month, as well as the commutation of death sentences for 37 individuals and the pardoning of 39 people for nonviolent crimes. The clemency actions come as one of Biden's final acts before leaving office, with the president expressing pride in his legacy of granting second chances.