The Brennan Center says Biden Has Made “Little or No Progress" after Promising “to root out systemic racism in our criminal justice system and to enact police reform in George Floyd’s name"

From [HERE] President Biden campaigned on a pledge to “strengthen America’s commitment to justice and reform our criminal justice system.” Unfortunately, that promise remains unfulfilled in several key areas. That’s especially disappointing given how many key reforms lie within the discretion of the executive branch.

As the administration completes its first year, it’s worth looking at key areas where action must be taken in the second.

Little or No Progress

Revitalizing the federal clemency power

Biden campaigned on a promise to “broadly use [the] clemency power for certain non-violent and drug crimes.” The executive’s pardon power is extraordinarily broad, and could serve as a powerful corrective to excessive punishment in the federal system generally, as well as a tool for righting specific wrongs. However, as of January 10, 2022, Biden had not granted any petitions for a pardon or commutation.

To be sure, President Obama waited several years before launching his clemency initiative, with most of his grants coming months before leaving office. But such political caution is no longer necessary — if it ever was — due to the broad, bipartisan support for clemency.

This inaction also underscores the need for broader reform. For years, experts of all political affiliations have called for a reworking of the federal clemency power. [MORE]