Biden commutes the sentences of nearly 1,500 people in the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history
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- Biden commuted the sentences of 1,500 people who were placed in home confinement.
- He also pardoned 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes.
- Biden will continue to look at clemency petitions in the weeks ahead.
President Joe Biden on Thursday commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoned 39 in the biggest single-day act of clemency in modern history.
The commutations applied to around 1,500 prisoners who were transferred to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into society.
They have "shown that they deserve a second chance," Biden said.
Biden also pardoned 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes, The White House said.
It did not give the names of the people involved but said those granted clemency include a decorated military veteran who helped church members, a nurse who helped COVID-19 vaccine rollout efforts, and an addiction counselor.
"The President has issued more sentence commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms," it added.
Barack Obama set the previously single-day record on his last day in office in 2017, after commuting the sentences of 330 inmates.
President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, issued 237 clemency orders during his first term in office, which the Pew Research Center said was among the lowest numbers of recent presidents. He issued 80% in his last months in office.
The orders announced Thursday, the White House said, "help reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals back into society."
Biden said he would continue to look at clemency petitions in the weeks ahead.
The move comes after Biden's decision to issue a full and unconditional pardon of his son Hunter.
Biden had previously insisted he would not use his pardon power to protect Hunter Biden from the verdicts in his cases. He addressed his change of heart in a statement, saying that politics has "infected" the justice system.