President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of dozens of federal prisoners on Friday, calling the move an 'important step' to correct sentencing disparities and provide deserving individuals a chance to return to their families. Biden, who said this action makes him the president with the most pardons and commutations in US history, highlighted that those receiving clemency were serving 'disproportionately long sentences' compared to what they would receive today, largely due to now-discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine.
President Joe Biden listens to a question from a reporter after walking out of St. John's Church in Washington, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Those whose sentences were commuted were serving"disproportionately long sentences" compared to what they would receive today, Biden said in a statement.
"With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in US history," Biden said, adding that he may issue further commutations or pardons before he hands over power to President-elect Donald Trump on Monday. Historically, there have been considerably more crack cocaine convictions involving Black offenders than whites and the disparate sentencing policy has been condemned as racist.
CLERGY POLITICS COMMUTATIONS SENTENCES RACISM
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