U.S. President Joe Biden is giving mercy to nearly 2500 offenders of non-violent drugs days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.

In the statement released on Friday, Mr Biden said the mercy he was showing would provide “relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes.”

Mr Biden also mentioned that the commuted sentences were compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law.

“As Congress recognised through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, it is time that we equalise these sentencing disparities,” said the outgoing U.S. president. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”

In December 2024, Mr Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates across 16 states, all of whom were convicted of murder, and their sentences were reduced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. 

In the same December, he also pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for firearms and tax charges and, two weeks later, pardoned nearly 1,500 individuals.

Amongst them, 39 individuals were serving sentences for non-violent offences, including marijuana possession.