Biden will commute or pardon sentences of 78 non-violent people. Here are a few to know

Authored by edition.cnn.com and submitted by PeasKhichra
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(CNN) President Joe Biden will mark "Second Chance Month" at the White House on Tuesday, commuting the sentences of 75 people serving time for nonviolent drug offenses, issuing full pardons for three individuals who the administration says have worked toward rehabilitation and unveiling new actions aimed at easing the transition back to normal life for the formerly incarcerated.

"America is a nation of laws and second chances, redemption, and rehabilitation. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders agree that our criminal justice system can and should reflect these core values that enable safer and stronger communities," Biden wrote in a statement shared with CNN on Monday.

"During Second Chance Month, I am using my authority under the Constitution to uphold those values by pardoning and commuting the sentences of fellow Americans," he continued.

Among those Biden will pardon is Abraham W. Bolden Sr., an 86-year-old former Secret Service agent and the first African American to serve on a presidential detail, according to a White House fact sheet. Bolden was convicted of charges related to attempting to sell a copy of a Secret Service file, though witnesses for the prosecution later admitted to lying at the request of prosecutors. Per the fact sheet, Bolden maintains he ultimately "was targeted for prosecution in retaliation for exposing unprofessional and racist behavior within the U.S. Secret Service."

Errodav on April 26th, 2022 at 20:06 UTC »

So genuine question from a European: is this a regular thing that the president always pardons a bunch of people? Isn't this just an admission that the system is broken and people are needlessly serving sentences that they shouldn't be? I'm genuinely confused.

jezra on April 26th, 2022 at 16:09 UTC »

imagine how many sentences would be commuted if Biden rescheduled cannabis at the federal level.

dbe14 on April 26th, 2022 at 15:25 UTC »

Genuine question as I'm not from the US. Have those with convictions for marijuana in states where it has become legal had their convictions quashed?