WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Democrats are pressuring President Joe Biden to grant thousands of non-violent inmates a get out of jail free card before he leaves office. They joined advocates on Capitol Hill to push for clemency.
“There are 61 days left in your presidency and the time to act is now,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.).
Democrats are calling on President Biden to shorten the sentences of thousands of inmates serving time for non-violent drug offenses.
Neil Berry, an activist with the Center for Popular Democracy, is a former stockbroker who was wrongfully convicted on armed robbery charges. He served nine years behind bars.
“There’s a lot of us who could tell the same story there, but we never had the opportunity for a fair trial of anything. And we had sentences that were ridiculous,” said Berry.
In 1994 Congress passed a crime bill which increased mandatory minimum sentencing for some drug offenses.
Maria Garza, a prison reform activist, faced 60-100 years for a drug trafficking conviction. Ultimately after a court fight, she served 12 years in state prison.
“You have everything in your power to right the wrong,” said Garza.
In 2018 Congress did attempt to rectify the law, passing the First Step Act which slashed sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenses.
The law, signed by then-President Donald Trump, did not affect those already convicted for offenses, like marijuana possession.
The White House says the president already granted 20 pardons and 122 commutations, including certain marijuana offenses.
