• President Biden commutes sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, the largest single-day clemency act in US history.
• This historic decision aims to address disproportionately long sentences reflective of outdated laws.
• Biden stated that his administration is focused on correcting sentencing disparities and righting historic wrongs.
• Following this announcement, Biden promised to consider further pardons and commutations before his term ends.
• Legal experts and advocates view this as a significant move towards reforming the US criminal justice system.

In a groundbreaking move on Friday, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, establishing a new record for the most individual pardons and commutations issued by any president in US history. This significant act of clemency comes just days before Biden is set to hand over the presidency to President-elect Donald Trump, marking his emphasis on addressing past injustices in the justice system.

In his statement, Biden emphasized that the individuals affected by his clemency "were serving disproportionately long sentences compared to those applicable under current law," indicating that the incorrectly harsh sentences were often based on outdated distinctions, particularly those between crack and powder cocaine. "This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families," he elaborated.

Notably, this action follows Biden's prior commutations and pardons last month, where he addressed the sentences of around 1,500 prisoners and pardoned 39 nonviolent offenders, which was noted as the largest clemency act in modern history (VOA News). Additionally, he commuted the sentences of those on federal death row, with many of those sentences changed to life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Biden's quick actions can be viewed as attempts to bolster his legacy in terms of criminal justice reform.

Amid ongoing discussions of further clemency actions, Biden has faced criticism for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, who was under scrutiny for multiple charges, including tax violations. This decision has sparked dialogue about the use of presidential powers in light of potential retribution from the incoming administration, suggesting that Biden may still issue additional pardons for allies deemed at risk (LA Times).

Organizations like Families Against Mandatory Minimums have praised Biden's clemency initiative, asserting that it "addresses decades-long injustices" and sets a new standard for presidential actions going forward (India Times). As the nation hopes for transformative changes in the criminal justice system, Biden's actions reflect a commitment to reforming the treatment of nonviolent offenders in the United States.

For further details, visit the original articles on SCMP, VOA News, Al Jazeera, LA Times, and India Times.