President Biden Commutes Thousands Of Non-Violent Drug Sentences

Source: Photo: Yuri Gripas/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images

WASHINGTON — President Biden is commuting the sentences of 2,500 non-violent drug offenders.

Biden said today that the move targets “disproportionately long” sentences compared to the ones that are handed down today. Some of those sentences were a result of legislation in the 1980s that he helped craft as a senator.

“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said.

The President also said he will continue to review more pardons and commutations as he begins his last weekend in office.

“As Congress recognized through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, it is time that we equalize these sentencing disparities,” Biden said. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”

President Biden Commutes Thousands Of Non-Violent Drug Sentences  was originally published on ronewibc.staging.go.ione.nyc