President Biden announced the commutation of sentences for 31 individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses as part of a larger initiative to assist those who have served their federal sentences in reentering society.
The identities of those whose sentences were commuted were made public by the White House on Friday afternoon.
A commutation is when a person’s conviction is upheld but their remaining sentence is lowered or forgiven. Commutation is not the same with pardon, as it completely overturns the conviction.
According to the reports, the defendants will serve the remainder of their sentences in home confinement until all 31 commutations take effect on June 30. The commutation orders also revealed that the offenders will continue to be under varied terms of supervised release, and some must still pay outstanding fines.
In an official announcement, the White House claimed that, “These individuals, who have been successfully serving sentences on home confinement, have demonstrated a commitment to rehabilitation, including by securing employment and advancing their education. Many would have received a lower sentence if they were charged with the same offense today, due to changes in the law, including the bipartisan First Step Act,” a reference to the 2018 law that revised some aspects of the federal criminal justice system.
The statement came in response to the White House’s presentation of its Alternatives, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Strategic Plan, which outlines measures being taken by the administration to aid people who have served time in prison in gaining access to housing, health care, education, job, and other necessities.
The majority of the plan’s components include the implementation of federal legislation, such as a 2020 statute that would make over 800,000 people qualified for Pell Grants as a result of jail education initiatives.
In order to help with housing concerns, the proposal calls for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide $486 million in grants and 3,300 rental assistance vouchers.
Additionally, it introduces a special Medicare enrollment window for former prisoners.
As stated in Justice Department data, Biden has so far in his presidency granted around 80 commutations. In addition, he has granted general pardons to approximately 6,000 federal defendants who were found guilty of simple marijuana possession last year, as well as nine other individuals.
