29 April: Biden reduces prison sentences for 31 convicted of non-violent drug offences.
US President Joe Biden on Friday reduced the prison sentences of 31 people convicted of drug-related crimes, using his powers of the presidency to soften punishment for non-violent offences.
All the individuals whose sentences were commuted had been serving lengthy terms for crimes involving crack cocaine, methamphetamine or other drugs. Some of them had been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Biden’s action was praised by criminal justice reform advocates, who have long argued that harsh sentences for drug offences disproportionately affect people of color and low-income communities.
The White House said that Biden was committed to using his clemency authority to “correct manifest injustices” and “give hope to those who have made mistakes and are committed to changing their lives”.
Biden has previously expressed support for ending mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes and eliminating the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing.
Among the beneficiaries of Biden’s clemency were:
- Curtis McDonald, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 for his role in a crack cocaine conspiracy. He was a first-time offender and a father of four.
- Ramiro Morales, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1998 for his involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking ring. He was a low-level courier and had no violent history.
- Danielle Metz, who was sentenced to three life sentences plus 20 years in 1993 for her participation in her husband’s cocaine distribution. She was 26 years old and had two young children.
The commutations came after Biden faced criticism from some progressives and activists for not using his clemency power more frequently and broadly.
According to the Justice Department, there are more than 14,000 pending clemency petitions from federal inmates.