These whose sentences had been commuted had been serving “disproportionately lengthy sentences” in comparison with what they might obtain as we speak, Biden mentioned in an announcement.
He referred to as the transfer “an essential step towards righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and offering deserving people the chance to return to their households”.
“With this motion, I’ve now issued extra particular person pardons and commutations than any president in US historical past,” Biden mentioned, including that he might challenge additional commutations or pardons earlier than he palms over energy to President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.
The outgoing president mentioned these receiving clemency had obtained prolonged sentences based mostly on now-discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, which have disproportionately impacted the Black neighborhood.
