Justice - "Disproportionate": Biden pardons offenders
US President Joe Biden has pardoned several criminals who were sentenced to "disproportionately long prison terms" for drug offenses. The White House announced that eleven men and women had been pardoned. They were all once sentenced to decades, in some cases even life imprisonment. According to the current legal situation, the sentences would have been significantly lighter. With this step, Biden is taking into account the principle of equal treatment before the law.
Under federal law, a US president can pardon convicted offenders, even after serving a sentence. In such cases, a pardon is about lifting possible restrictions that apply to former offenders and publicly rehabilitating a person's reputation. Biden has already made use of this option on several occasions.
Biden also ordered that all persons convicted of marijuana possession in the USA at federal level be pardoned. Entries in criminal records for the possession or use of marijuana lead to "unnecessary obstacles" when it comes to employment, housing or educational opportunities, Biden said. Too many lives had been turned upside down by the "misguided approach to the issue".
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- Despite serving their sentences, these pardoned individuals remain liable for any other criminal charges or civil penalties associated with their drug offense convictions.
- Critics argue that the government's leniency towards white-collar crimes and wealthy offenders contrasts sharply with the harsh treatment of individuals convicted of drug offenses, most of whom are men of color in the USA.
- As the U.S. president, Joe Biden holds the power to grant pardons for drug offense convictions, which can significantly impact imprisonment and subsequent punishment, including disqualifications from employment, housing, and education opportunities.
- In an effort to champion justice and fairness, Biden's decision to pardon marijuana possession offenders aims to right past wrongs and give former offenders a second chance by eliminating barriers to reentry.
- While Biden's pardons have been widely praised, some argue that the government should go further and fully decriminalize marijuana use completely, further reducing the impact of incarceration on individuals and communities.
- The following year, following the success of these first pardons, Biden expanded his clemency initiatives to include pardons for additional drug offense convictions, proving his commitment to overturning discriminatory justice policies.
- The efforts by Biden and other leaders to address disproportionate sentencing for drug offenses in the USA is a significant step towards achieving true justice, ensuring equal treatment, and preventing the unjust imprisonment of innocent men and women.
Source: www.stern.de
