Joe Biden Commutes Most Federal Death Sentences: Paving the Way for Reform in the US Justice System

President Biden’s Historic Commutation

In an unprecedented move on December 23, 2024, United States President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row. This signifies the largest mass commutation in recent history and imparts a significant shift in the US federal penal system. Three inmates convicted for deadly hate crimes or acts of terror will still face execution, demonstrating the complexity inherent in the issue of capital punishment.

Death Penalty in the US: Contextualising Biden’s Decision

Biden’s policy reform stands in stark contrast to the approach of his predecessor, President-elect Donald Trump, whose first term witnessed the execution of 13 federal inmates, the highest number enforced by any president in the last 120 years. Trump has consistently advocated for capital punishment, even for undocumented immigrants convicted for murder. However, Biden, a staunch opponent of the death penalty, instated an immediate moratorium on federal executions when he first took office.

Beyond the Moratorium: Commuting Sentences at the Federal Level

Biden’s move to commute 37 death sentences aligns with the moratorium enacted during his term. “These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder,” Biden explained in a statement. The commute means that the inmates will instead serve life in prison, reframing their fate from one of execution to lifelong incarceration.

Remaining on Federal Death Row

Amidst this significant commutation, three inmates will notably remain on federal death row: Dhzokhar Tsarnaev, who participated in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who killed nine Black churchgoers in a 2015 racist attack, and Robert Bowers, who carried out a mass shooting targeting Jewish worshippers in 2018. These cases underscore the ongoing debate related to the death penalty, where atrocities of such magnitude challenge the boundaries of calls for reform.

Controversies Surrounding the Commuted Cases

Among those who had their sentences commuted was Billie Jerome Allen, convicted in 1998 for killing a security guard during a robbery. Questions over racial bias, the young age of the accused at the time, and the lack of evidence linking him to the crime have long surrounded Allen’s case, attracting the attention of international human rights organization, Amnesty International.

Death Penalty: A Cruel, Inhuman and Degradable Punishment

Amnesty International and several other rights groups, have lauded Biden’s move, indicating a broader global consensus against the death penalty. Despite applauding Biden’s decision, they also argue that further reforms are necessary. As Amnesty International USA Executive Director, Paul O’Brien, puts it, “The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, President Biden’s eleventh-hour decision before leaving office to commute these death sentences is a big moment for human rights”.

The Future of Capital Punishment in the US

Despite Biden’s landmark decision, there remains a deep divergence in national sentiment regarding the capital punishment debate. With the death penalty already abolished in 23 US states and moratoriums enforced in an additional six, Biden’s move could catalyse change at the federal level, ultimately prompting more states to do away with this archaic punishment. The pivotal nature of this gesture cannot be underscored enough; it is not only a step towards fulfilling Biden’s 2020 campaign promise to end federal capital punishment but it also signals a paradigm shift in America’s approach towards justice and retribution.

Originally Post From https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/23/biden-commutes-most-federal-death-sentences-before-trump-term

Biden Commutes Majority of Federal Death Sentences in Break from Trump Era