WASHINGTON — In a significant shift in federal death penalty policy, President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 inmates on federal death row to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This move comes ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who is known for his staunch support of capital punishment.
The decision does not affect three high-profile inmates, including Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, involved in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing; Dylann Roof who killed nine African American churchgoers in Charleston in 2015; and Robert Bowers, responsible for the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
Biden, who has voiced his opposition to the death penalty, emphasized his commitment to ceasing its application at the federal level. “I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty,” Biden stated. This stance contrasts sharply with the previous administration, under which federal executions resumed in 2020 after a 17-year hiatus.
During his tenure, Trump oversaw 13 federal executions. He had even proposed extending capital punishment to include new categories such as drug traffickers and certain convicted migrants, reflecting a broader crackdown on crime.
The commutations include individuals convicted of serious crimes, including nine who killed fellow inmates and four involved in fatal bank robberies. Among those granted clemency was Len Davis, a former New Orleans police officer entangled in criminal activities including the arrangement of a woman’s murder.
Billie Allen, who has been on death row for more than two decades for a crime he claims he did not commit, expressed relief following the commutation. Speaking from Terra Haute prison, Indiana, Allen conveyed the collective relief among the inmates, noting, “to have that burden lifted, it’s a great relief.”
However, the decision has been met with mixed reactions, particularly from victims’ families. Heather Turner, whose mother was murdered in a bank robbery in 2017, voiced her frustration with the timing and nature of Biden’s decision, casting it as politically motivated and insensitive to the needs of victims’ families.
Criticism also came from political circles, with Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas labeling the Democratic Party as one that prioritizes the interests of criminals over victims and public safety.
Biden’s stance on the death penalty marks a clear ideological divide from his predecessor and sets a definitive policy path for his administration. His actions also align with a broader trend across the U.S., where the death penalty is seeing diminishing support. Currently, 23 states have abolished capital punishment, and six others have imposed moratoriums.
This decision underscores the president’s use of executive clemency as an instrument for justice reform. Earlier this month, he also commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people convicted of non-violent crimes and issued 39 pardons.
The presidential power to grant reprieves and pardons is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, providing a key tool for executive influence over the nation’s justice system. These clemency decisions, as defined by U.S. law, are irreversible by future administrations, making Biden’s recent commutations a permanent reconfiguration of the lives of those affected.