Prez Biden commutes sentences of “nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses”

After a notably modest use of his clemency powers prior to the latest election, Prez Biden is on a historic clemency tear over the last eight weeks.  Today’s actiona are set forth in this “Statement from President Joe Biden on Additional Clemency Actions“:

Today, I am commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses who are serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.  With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history.

Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes.  As Congress recognized through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, it is time that we equalize these sentencing disparities.  This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.  I am proud of my record on clemency and will continue to review additional commutations and pardons.

I cannot yet find a list of these notable commutation, but in terms of numbers and the impacts on prisoners and their families, this latest clemency action appears to be the most consequential by Prez Biden to date. And it sound like there might be more coming (though I am inclined to guess any final pardons will most likely be so-called pre-emptive ones).

UPDATE: Now available via the White House is this lengthy list of today’s clemency recipients, a total of 2,490 persons.