WASHINGTON, D.C. – FWD.us Executive Director Zoë Towns issued the following statement today after key members of Congress held a press conference on Capitol Hill urging President Biden to take bold, immediate action on clemency. FWD.us was one of the national organizations endorsing a letter from the lawmakers formally calling on the President to prioritize robust clemency measures in the final months of his term:

“We are thrilled to see Rep. Pressley as well as Rep. Clyburn, Rep. Scanlon, and Rep. Omar join the growing chorus of voices calling for President Biden to prioritize meaningful action on clemency in the final months of his presidency. President Biden has an opportunity to cement his legacy of racial justice and fairness by granting robust clemency for individuals who are deserving of a second chance.

“FWD.us has conducted years of extensive research on public safety and public opinion on criminal justice reform in general and on clemency in particular. Time and again, our data shows that reducing prison terms through clemency can be done safely with myriad family, community, and economic benefits. The public is also very supportive: our polling shows nearly three-quarters of likely voters believe it is important to reduce the jail and prison population in the U.S. and even more voters across the political spectrum support increasing the use of commutations to reduce incarceration.”

BACKGROUND MATERIALS: 

Clemency Poll Memo:

New Polling Shows Strong National Support for Reducing Incarceration and Expanding Clemency

Clemency Primer: 

With the Stroke of a Pen: A Primer on Presidential Clemency

Federal Prison Population Fact Sheet w/ NAACP:

The Federal Prison Population Is at an Inflection Point

Clemency & Advancing Public Safety Brief: 

The Case for Clemency: Reducing Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences and Advancing Public Safety