Biden’s first pardons ease punishment for non-violent drug crimes

President Joe Biden is issuing the first pardons of his term on Tuesday. It is part of steps aimed at shoring up his record on crime and racial justice including non-violent drug crimes.

Presidential pardons for relaxing punishments for drug crimes:

President Biden will be pardoning three people and commuting or reducing sentences for 75 more. According to the White House statement, several convictions were for committing non-violent drug crimes. On Tuesday, White House officials will also introduce policies for assisting people who served time. This will help in integrating them back into society and reducing their chances of repeating offenses. The policies also include funds worth $145 million for job training in federal prisons. The US has less than five percent of the world’s population. However, it has a fifth of the world’s prisoners. Recently, the prison populations across the US were reduced to lower the risk of COVID-19.

The issue also bears special weight before the midterm congressional elections in November where the Democrat’s control of the Senate and the House of Representatives are in danger. “America is a nation of laws and second chances, redemption, and rehabilitation. Helping those who served their time return to their families and become contributing members of their communities is one of the most effective ways to reduce recidivism and decrease crime,” stated President Biden. He also added that his administration will keep focusing on reviewing clemency petitions and other efforts for reforming the prevailing law enforcement system.

More on the three released

“Betty Jo Bogans, 51, is being pardoned after serving a seven-year sentence stemming from a 1998 conviction for possessing crack cocaine for her boyfriend,” stated the White House. 52-year-old Dexter Jackson is pardoned following his conviction in 2002. It was for allowing marijuana distributors to use his pool hall. “The people seeing their sentences reduced have already served almost 10 years in prison, on average, for nonviolent drug offenses and have shown a commitment to rehabilitation,” added the White House.

Additionally, 86-year-old Abraham Bolden is the third in line for the presidential pardon. Bolden was the first black member of the president’s Secret Service under President John F Kennedy. He raised concerns about the security force’s readiness in the 1960s of trying to sell government info. “Bolden maintained his innocence and key witnesses in his trial admitted to lying at the prosecutor’s request,” stated the White House.

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