Biden Commutes Sentences Of 2,500 Inmates Convicted Of Crack Cocaine Offences
LAGOS JANUARY 18TH (NEWSRANGERS)-President Biden on Friday commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 federal inmates convicted of crack cocaine offenses — as roughly the same number of marijuana prisoners await word on whether he will honor his campaign pledge to free them.
The White House didn’t say whether the latest clemency recipients would be released immediately or if their sentences would merely be shortened — as was the case with many similar grants under former President Barack Obama.
“Today, I am commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses who are serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice,” said Biden, 82.
“With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. [sic] history. 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who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes.”
Crack cocaine offenses historically were sentenced much more harshly than powder cocaine — with the majority of crack offenders being black. The White House did not release a list of recipients or say if any were jailed for other drugs.
As a senator, Biden co-sponsored the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which created a 100:1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine that later was reduced to an 18:1 disparity by the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010.
It’s unclear why the president has not honored his campaign pledge to release “everyone” in prison for pot — of whom more than 2,700 remain, according to a 2022 congressional estimate.
The outgoing president has deflected or declined to answer multiple press questions about his commitment to free marijuana inmates.
Biden’s spokespeople have indicated that he believes he honored that pot pledge with a mass-pardon in 2022 of people convicted of simple marijuana possession, of whom none remained in prison.
Drug reform and clemency advocates had mixed opinions on Biden’s latest action and the uncertainty about whether he will honor his pledge to marijuana prisoners, who mostly are behind bars for dealing the drug, which about half of states now allow for recreational use.
“President Biden was one of the original architects of the War on Drugs, having authored nearly every significant federal crime bill in the 1980s and 1990s. He is personally responsible for the decades these individuals have spent behind bars — and for tearing apart families and decimating communities in the process,” said Kat Murti, executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
“Using his last few days in office to rectify this grave injustice is a major step in the right direction,” Murti said.
“Today’s announcement marks the biggest single-day act of clemency in American history, but there are still thousands of Americans serving long-term or even life sentences for cannabis-related charges and over 600 Americans are still arrested for marijuana every single day.”
Amy Ralston Povah, president of the CAN-DO Foundation, which advocates for clemency for nonviolent offenders, said she was concerned that the latest categorical action did not account for inmates given long sentences for marijuana and powder cocaine, as well as other drugs, especially those who chose to go to trial and as a result had the book thrown at them.
“We are extremely grateful that President Biden is taking long-awaited steps to address the inequity related to crack versus powder cocaine cases, as stated in his press release,” Povah said.
“These individuals represent a class that establishes there is always more to be done to overcome the draconian zero-tolerance laws passed by both Republicans and Democrats in the late 80s and 90s, even by then Senator Biden himself. This is a huge step by President Biden to right those injustices.”
Povah added that “there are additional individuals who suffer from disparity sentencing because they exercised their Sixth Amendment right to a trial who have received draconian sentences — typically 20 years to life without parole. These people are often minor participants indicted for conspiracy charges that held them responsible for the actions of other co-conspirators that were far more culpable, but entered into a plea agreement to testify against those with less information.”
“The general population still doesn’t realize that many kingpins were allowed to receive immunity or minor sentences in exchange for their cooperation to testify against the low-hanging fruit that often didn’t profit from their crimes but were held culpable for the actions of those at the top of the food chain who did testify, even when there was no tangible evidence – just the word of co-conspirator that may or may not be considered reliable and not tangible evidence,” Povah said.
“We pray those individuals will also receive mercy whether today or the coming final days of the Biden administration.”
Tracy Feagan, 54, one of the men who received news that he received clemency Friday, had his life sentence reduced.
“It’s such a blessing for any mother to hear that her soon is coming home. I give God all the glory,” said his mother Phyllis Wyne.
Biden has wielded his powers more than any other president before him — often in controversial fashion.
Most famously, last month he pardoned his son Hunter of all crimes he “has committed or may have committed” between 2014 and 2024 after the troubled first son was convicted of federal gun charges and federal tax evasion charges related to Chinese and Ukrainian business relationships in which Hunter involved his powerful dad.
Then in late December, he helped 37 of the 40 men on federal death row — including multiple child killers and mass murderers — escape execution, commuting their sentences to life in prison without parole.
Biden also issued the “largest single-day grant of clemency” on Dec. 12 when he commuted sentences for 1,500 people and pardoned 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes who were transferred from prison to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
President-elect Donald Trump issued 144 pardons and 94 commutations during his first term, according to the DOJ. President Barack Obama issued 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations over his two terms.
New York Post
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Posted by News Rangers
on Jan 18 2025. Filed under International, National.
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