The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, is commuting the sentences of about 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed under house arrest during the coronavirus pandemic and has pardoned 39 Americans convicted of non-violent crimes.
This is the largest one-day act of mercy in modern history, writes A2.
The pardons announced Thursday are for people who have served sentences of home confinement for at least a year after being released. Prisons were bad for the spread of the virus and some inmates were partially released to stop the spread. At one point, 1 in 5 inmates had COVID-19, according to a report carried by the Associated Press.
Biden said he would take more steps in the coming weeks and continue to review clemency petitions. The second-highest one-day pardon was by Barack Obama, with 330, shortly before he left office in 2017.
"America was built on the promise of opportunity and second chances," Biden said in a statement.
"As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated repentance and rehabilitation, restoring the opportunity for Americans to participate in everyday life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to eliminate inequities in sentences for non-violent offenders, particularly those convicted of drug offenses," Biden added.
Those pardoned Thursday had been convicted of nonviolent crimes such as drug offenses and had turned their lives around, White House lawyers said. They include a woman who led emergency response teams during natural disasters; a church deacon who has worked as an addiction counselor and youth counselor; a PhD student in molecular biosciences; and a decorated military veteran. (A2 Televizion)
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