(ProsperNews.net) – President Joe Biden is considering commuting the sentences of around 40 federal death row inmates, a move suggesting a significant change in capital punishment policy.
At a Glance
- President Biden may commute sentences for most federal death row inmates.
- Possibly influenced by Catholic beliefs and recent discussions with Pope Francis.
- Decision expected by Christmas, with life sentences without parole considered.
- Debate ongoing about handling notorious cases like Dylann Roof or Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Federal Capital Punishment Policy Under Review
President Joe Biden is contemplating a major shift in the federal capital punishment policy by considering the commutation of most, if not all, sentences for those on federal death row. This policy option could have significant implications for around 40 inmates, possibly altering the landscape of the federal justice system. Currently, death row includes individuals convicted of highly publicized crimes, like Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof and Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Biden’s potential decision aligns with his lifelong Catholic stance opposing the death penalty. Reports indicate that input from international figures, such as Pope Francis, has influenced this reconsideration. Pope Francis has called for global leaders to rethink the use of the death penalty, advocating for the moral and ethical reconsideration of capital punishment practices.
President Biden is considering commuting the sentences of most, if not all, of the 40 men on the federal government’s death row. w/@cryanbarber https://t.co/gOcVzkWk87
— @jessbravin.bsky.social (@JessBravin) December 20, 2024
Timely Decision and Political Implications
A decision is anticipated by Christmas, coinciding with a festive period often associated with clemency and mercy. Attorney General Merrick Garland has reportedly advised Biden to convert these sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, though exceptions might be made in cases involving especially notorious convicts. The deliberations have raised public debate, especially concerning whether heinous acts warrant maintaining the death penalty as a form of justice.
The potential shift highlights efforts to address past campaign promises, including his 2020 pledge to eliminate the federal death penalty. Recent actions such as pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, reflect his broader use of clemency power, aligning with his administration’s criminal justice reform agenda.
Big scoop from @JessBravin @cryanbarber: Attorney General Merrick Garland, who oversees federal prisons, recommended that Biden commute all but a handful of the sentences, the people familiar with the matter said, excepting a few terrorism and hate-crimes cases. https://t.co/ZfdqT1qeiC
— Sadie Gurman (@sgurman) December 20, 2024
Constitutional Power and Broader Reform
The U.S. Constitution grants the president extensive powers to grant clemency. This includes the potential commuting of sentences for federal offences, except in cases of impeachment. The broader social implications and the message sent by altering the federal death penalty policies are still under discussion. Biden has already issued numerous commutations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, showing he is not averse to wielding these powers.
Previous pardons and commutations, such as those for approximately 1,500 individuals during the health crisis, are part of his administration’s approach to reshaping the criminal justice landscape. While no final decision has been reached, public scrutiny and legal considerations continue to weigh heavily on any outcome.
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