Biden Sets Record for Presidential Clemency with 2,500 Commutations in a Single Day

The outgoing president has granted clemency to over 4,000 individuals during his term, focusing on nonviolent drug offenders serving disproportionately long sentences.

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 nonviolent drug offenders on his last full working day in office.
This action brings Biden's total clemency grants to over 4,000, surpassing any other U.S. president in history, including Barack Obama’s previous record of 1,715 commutations.
Biden emphasized addressing sentencing disparities rooted in outdated drug laws, such as crack and powder cocaine sentencing differences, as a key motivation for his clemency actions.
Critics note Biden's role in crafting the 'tough-on-crime' policies that initially led to many of these harsh sentences, though he has since expressed regret for his past legislative support.
Biden’s clemency efforts also included December actions, where he commuted nearly 1,500 sentences and granted 39 pardons, underscoring his focus on criminal justice reform.