JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK STATEMENT ON WHITE HOUSE CLEMENCY & REENTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Biden Grants Sentence Commutations for 78 Nonviolent Offenses as Bipartisan Sentencing Reform Legislation Surges Towards a Vote in Congress

JAN’s Inimai Chettiar: “These are good but modest steps, and it’s time for President Biden to meet the urgency of the moment.” 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The White House will observe Second Chance Month by commuting the sentences of 78 people, supporting expanded reentry programs, and meeting with formerly incarcerated individuals. This activity comes as significant bipartisan sentencing reform legislation continues to gather momentum and surge towards a vote in Congress. Yet, major elements of the Biden Administration’s campaign promises to address mass incarceration are unmet – including full implementation of bipartisan reforms passed by Congress. 

In response to today’s announcement, Inimai Chettiar, Federal Director of Justice Action Network, the country’s largest organization dedicated to bipartisan criminal justice reform at the federal and state levels, issued the following statement: 

“Providing second chances for individuals is a step in the right direction – and today, dozens of families are experiencing incredible relief that their loved ones can come home, restart their lives, and rejoin their communities,” said Inimai Chettiar. “President Biden has done the right thing and for that, and for support for expanded reentry efforts, we commend him. These actions build on the Administration’s efforts from last year to open pandemic emergency business loans to individuals with criminal records, end the use of private prisons, and reverse a Trump era order that would have sent thousands needlessly back to prison.

“But these are just modest steps, and it’s time for President Biden to meet the urgency of the moment. President Biden ran on a promise to help end mass incarceration, and he has broad public support for that promise. We urge the Administration to take stronger executive action to achieve this, and to work with Congressional leadership to pass bipartisan measures in Congress to reduce the prison population.

“Thousands more people in federal prisons meet the same safety criteria, and are equally deserving of early release. Vital elements of the bipartisan First Step Act of 2018 and the Fair Chance Act of 2019 have still not been implemented. No nominations have been made for key vacancies at the Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Sentencing Commission. And Congress has not yet passed meaningful justice reform under this Administration. We hope today’s announcement is just the one of many. 

“The EQUAL Act, a bipartisan sentencing reform bill that would eliminate one of the worst racial disparities in our drug laws, is on the cusp of passage in the Senate. It has support from law enforcement, civil rights leaders, and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Bold, bipartisan action is needed on criminal justice now, and we urge President Biden and Senate Leadership to take up the charge and get this bill across the finish line.”