NEWS: President Biden Commutes Sentences of Nearly 2,500 Individuals

President Biden’s decision mirrors a growing commitment to criminal justice reform across the nation.

Washington, DC – President Joe Biden announced today that he will commute the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals serving time for non-violent drug offenses. These individuals were sentenced to decades in prison under disparity in the law that has since been reduced by the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010 and federal First Step Act in 2018. 

The Justice Action Network (JAN) commends President Biden for this historic action, which addresses longstanding sentencing disparities and further builds upon the clemency actions taken in December. In 2024, the Justice Action Network (JAN) urged the President to fully embrace his executive power to correct systemic injustices for individuals convicted of non-violent offenses: an appeal that helped lay the groundwork for today’s announcement.

“We’re grateful that President Biden has heeded our call and commuted the sentences of 2,500 individuals serving outdated and lengthy prison terms for non-violent drug offenses,” said Lauren Krisai, Executive Director. “The First Step Act reduced sentencing disparities in the law and is proving effective, and we’re thrilled these individuals will be reunited with their families following his action today.”

We are highly encouraged by the effectiveness of the First Step Act, for which JAN is proud to have been a leader in advocating for its bipartisan passage in Congress.

President Biden's actions reflect a growing trend across the nation, where states with both Republican and Democratic leadership are successfully reducing incarceration rates for non-violent offenses, in addition to decreases in recidivism and crime rates, by focusing on strategies like providing incentives and supporting reentry to the workforce. These actions are critical steps toward a more fair and productive justice system.