President Biden's recent announcement of clemency actions builds on his previous efforts in December 2024, when he commuted approximately 1,500 sentences and pardoned 39 individuals, marking the largest single-day clemency act in modern history.

He highlighted the importance of addressing disproportionate sentences, particularly those resulting from outdated distinctions between crack and powder cocaine.

Biden is also contemplating pardoning officials from his administration who may have been unfairly targeted by the previous administration, indicating a novel approach to presidential pardon powers.

Under this law, a mere possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine resulted in an automatic five-year sentence, while 500 grams of powder cocaine carried the same penalty, illustrating the inequity in sentencing.

Biden acknowledged the efforts of Congress through the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 and the First Step Act of 2018, which aimed to address these sentencing disparities.

Despite controversies surrounding his 1994 crime bill, Biden's clemency initiatives demonstrate his dedication to using executive power to tackle systemic inequities.

Advocates like Sarah Gersten from the Last Prisoner Project expressed that Biden's clemency grants not only bring hope to those released but also to others still imprisoned for cannabis-related offenses due to the War on Drugs.

The harsh penalties imposed by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, signed by President Reagan, have led to significant racial disparities in incarceration rates for crack-related offenses.

Biden's decision particularly benefits federal prisoners convicted of crack cocaine offenses, reflecting a commitment to reducing racial disparities in sentencing.

Civil rights groups and defense attorneys have ramped up their advocacy for individuals they believe are wrongly convicted or serving excessive sentences for non-violent offenses.

Shaneva D. McReynolds from Families Against Mandatory Minimums commended Biden for establishing a new standard for presidential clemency and addressing longstanding injustices in the criminal justice system.

Since the November 2024 election, criminal justice reform groups have been anticipating significant clemency actions for drug offenses, which Biden's latest announcement fulfills.