On December 12, 2024, President Joe Biden announced a significant reduction in sentences for approximately 1,500 individuals and granted full pardons to 39 others, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history.
The majority of those affected had been placed under house arrest during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the pardoned individuals all convicted of non-violent offenses.
In a statement, President Biden emphasized the importance of second chances, noting, "America is about the promise of second chances and opportunities." He expressed his privilege in being able to grant clemency to individuals who have shown remorse and rehabilitation, aiming to reintegrate them into society and address disparities in sentencing, particularly for non-violent drug offenders.
The Biden administration highlighted that the recipients of these pardons had demonstrated a commitment to changing their lives, including a woman who works with first responders in natural disasters, a church worker who has also served as an addiction counselor, a veteran, and a doctoral candidate in molecular biosciences.
This clemency action followed Biden's earlier pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of federal tax evasion, prompting calls from activists and lawmakers for similar leniency toward ordinary Americans.
Additionally, there have been requests for Biden to consider reducing death sentences for federal inmates on death row. Former President Donald Trump has indicated plans to issue widespread pardons on the first day of his potential second term, including for those convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.