Biden Urged to Commute Death Sentences Before Leaving Office

Weathered Death Row sign on aged concrete wall

A growing chorus of advocates is urging President Biden to commute all federal death sentences, potentially reshaping the U.S. criminal justice landscape.

At a Glance

A coalition of 38 legal experts calls on Biden to commute death sentences.
The death penalty is described as racially biased and ineffective for public safety.
40 individuals remain on federal death row, over half of whom are non-white.
Advocacy groups stress the urgency of Biden’s clemency as a legacy-defining act.

Mounting Pressure for Clemency

A coalition of 38 prosecutors and justice leaders sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to commute all federal death sentences to life imprisonment. The letter critiques the death penalty as inherently flawed and racially biased, failing to enhance public safety. This coalition comprises a diverse group, including district attorneys, attorneys general, law enforcement officials, and former judges. They argue that clemency is an opportunity for Biden to deliver on his promises of justice reform.

The first Trump administration had resumed federal executions after a 17-year break, executing 13 individuals in six months. With a historical backdrop of racial discrimination in capital punishment, advocates fear that future administrations could reinstate executions, highlighting the need for Biden’s timely action. They emphasize the moral imperative for the U.S. to align with global trends toward abolition.

Aligning With Campaign Promises

Biden has voiced opposition to capital punishment in the past, and his administration has already imposed a moratorium on federal executions. Human rights groups, supported by a coalition of 134 organizations, commend this step and urge further action to fully commute existing death row sentences. These groups point out that over half of the 40 individuals on federal death row are non-white, underscoring systemic racial disparities.

“The death penalty is riddled with error, bias, and injustice. It targets the poorest and most vulnerable among us while failing to provide any meaningful public safety benefits.” – Amy Fettig

Since 1973, at least 200 individuals have been exonerated from U.S. death rows, many after evidence of innocence was unearthed. This troubling record adds weight to calls for reform. Advocates stress that systemic flaws and racial biases mar the integrity of capital punishment and its implementation. Commuting these sentences could prevent further irreversible mistakes.

ACT NOW: Tell President Biden to use his constitutional authority to commute the death sentence of Billie Allen and all others on federal and military death row. https://t.co/4oc2oetj1s

— Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) December 9, 2024

Biden’s Presidential Legacy

The potential clemency actions would reflect Biden’s commitment to his long-standing platform of criminal justice reform. Former corrections officials and families of crime victims have joined activists in highlighting Biden’s unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. As his term progresses, Biden is expected to make more clemency announcements, consistent with the tradition of issuing pardons towards the end of presidential terms.

“Justice is the ultimate goal of a prosecutor, and the death penalty is an unjust system that disproportionately impacts defendants of color. Commuting federal death sentences to life imprisonment has no negative impact on public safety and serves the core principles of accountability and justice.” – County Attorney Mary Moriarty

Calls for reform are increasingly urgent with the specter of future administrations reversing current moratoriums. As Biden considers his options, the pressure mounts from various constituents and civic leaders to actualize change. Should Biden heed these calls, his decision could set a transformative precedent for the U.S. justice system, asserting a renewed dedication to equality and justice for all.