Biden’s Bold Move: Life Sentences for Federal Death Row Inmates in Last Month of Presidency

President Joe Biden announced on Monday a significant decision to commute the sentences of 37 out of 40 individuals currently on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment. This move comes just weeks before Donald Trump, an advocate for expanded capital punishment, assumes office.

The commutations affect individuals convicted of various serious offenses, including the murders of police and military personnel, as well as those involved in violent drug-related crimes. As a result, only three inmates remain under the threat of execution: Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers.

Biden stated, “I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.” He emphasized that these commutations align with the moratorium on federal executions established by his administration, exempting cases related to terrorism and mass hate crimes.

The moratorium, initiated in 2021 to assess execution protocols, effectively suspended federal executions throughout Biden’s administration. However, the President had initially pledged to eliminate federal executions altogether, without any exemptions.

During his presidential campaign, Biden’s platform included intentions to legislate against the death penalty federally and encourage states to do the same. Nevertheless, this language was notably absent from his reelection website before stepping back from the race.