Biden Commutes 1,500 Sentences, Pardons 39 Convicts

President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic, while also pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes.

The previous record for the largest single-day clemency act was set by former President Barack Obama, who commuted 330 sentences just before leaving office in 2017. I Photo: President Joe Biden Facebook

This marks the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history, as per a report by  Colleen Long of the Associated Press (AP).

The commutations are for individuals who have served at least one year of home confinement since their release. Prisons were particularly vulnerable to spreading the virus, prompting releases to help curb COVID-19 outbreaks.

At one point, 1 in 5 prisoners contracted the virus, according to an AP tally. Biden indicated that more clemency actions would be forthcoming and pledged to continue reviewing petitions.

The previous record for the largest single-day clemency act was set by former President Barack Obama, who commuted 330 sentences just before leaving office in 2017.

“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement.

“As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for nonviolent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”