President Biden Commutes Sentences of Nearly All Federal Death Row Inmates
President Biden has announced that he is commuting the sentences of nearly all the inmates on federal death row, a move that comes just two weeks after he went through with the “largest single-day grant of clemency” in American history. The decision affects 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row, who will have their sentences reclassified to life without the possibility of parole.
The 37 inmates being reclassified include those who were convicted of various murderous acts, including the killing of law enforcement officers, children, and other inmates. Among the victims are 11 people killed in a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, nine Black parishioners killed at Emanuel AME Church, and three people killed in the Boston Marathon bombing.
The three inmates who will not have their sentences commuted are Robert Bowers, who was responsible for the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue; Dylann Roof, who killed nine Black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who worked with his brother to perpetuate the Boston Marathon bombing.
Biden has only supported the death penalty at the federal level for “terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder,” and has declared a moratorium on federal executions. He believes that his decision will prevent the next administration from carrying out execution sentences that would not be handed down under current policy and practice.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with some praising Biden’s move and others criticizing it. As of December 13, Biden has pardoned a total of 65 individuals and commuted sentences for 1,634 inmates during his time as president.
Various groups and people, including former corrections officials, have praised Biden’s decision, calling him “courageous” and thanking him for sending a “strong message.”