As President Biden points out, many of these individuals would have received less severe sentences under the First Step Act.
With his first three presidential pardons and the commutation of the sentences of 75 prisoners serving time for nonviolent drug offenses, the president has proved his “wide-ranging commitment” to reforming the justice system and tackling racial disparities.
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The president’s belief that America is a nation of second chances is reflected in Tuesday’s pardons and commutations, according to the White House, which stated that the individuals involved have “made efforts to rehabilitate themselves, including through educational and vocational training or drug treatment while in prison,” among other things.
As well as commuting the sentences of 75 people who are serving long prison sentences for non-violent drug offenses, many of whom have been serving their sentences in home confinement during the COVIDpandemic [sic]—and many of whom would have received a lower sentence if the COVIDpandemic [sic] had not occurred—the president said: