Biden Commutes 11 Drug Sentences, Pardons Marijuana Offenders
Facts
- US Pres. Joe Biden announced Friday that he would commute the sentences of 11 people serving decades-long sentences for non-violent drug charges as well as pardon a larger group of people convicted of federal marijuana possession charges.1
- Explaining its decision to commute the 11 sentences, the White House said some of the individuals were serving life sentences for charges that would be sentenced much less harshly today, such as Earlie Deacon, who was convicted of cocaine distribution.1
- Some of the commuted sentences reportedly represented disparities in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine, with some legal experts warning that such long prison terms not only don't help public safety but disproportionately impact Black communities.1
- Meanwhile, the marijuana pardons apply to US citizens and permanent residents sentenced for simple possession, attempted simple possession, and simple possession or use of marijuana on federal properties or installations, which was not included in pardons issued by Biden last year.2
- As these pardons only apply to federal convictions, Biden called on state governors to follow his lead and release prisoners convicted for 'use or possession of marijuana.'3
- Biden last October pardoned thousands of people convicted in federal court for marijuana possession. That pardon, however, excluded convictions for 'trafficking, marketing, and under-age sales.'2
Sources: 1Msn, 2Forbes and 3Abc news.
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by New York Times. Biden is righting not only the wrongs of America's past but of laws that he himself helped pass decades ago. The president now understands what the American people have long understood: Black and Brown people face disproportionately more convictions and longer sentences than their White counterparts. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end of a system that ruins the lives and career prospects of people who were put away for harmless infractions.
- Republican narrative, as provided by The american mind. While prison reform for nonviolent offenses can certainly be debated, this issue shouldn't be about racism. The real data show that the rate of marijuana dependency — a phenomenon discussed by Black intellectuals as far back as W.E.B. Du Bois and Richard Wright — is far higher among Black people than White people. Regarding people in prison today, most of those convicted of so-called nonviolent drug offenses actually pled down from more serious crimes like trafficking or other felonies.