WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, FWD.us Executive Director Zoë Towns issued the following statement on President Biden’s opportunity to cement a criminal justice reform legacy by taking bold action on clemency:

“As President Biden lays out a vision for the final 6 months of his presidency, he has a unique opportunity to take bold action on clemency, allowing people serving excessive federal sentences to return home to their families and communities. This is his chance to fulfill his campaign promise to address the ills of mass incarceration by building on the clemency initiative launched a decade ago under the Obama-Biden administration.

“Despite great progress on criminal justice reform over the past decade, mass incarceration remains a massive policy failure, undermining the very fabric that makes our communities safe. Half of all U.S. adults have a family member who has been incarcerated, with one in eight people in prison serving time in the federal system on many sentences that would be deemed outrageous today.

“The Biden-Harris administration has made recent strides to advance criminal justice reforms, including extending pardons to those convicted of marijuana possession, but much more can and should be done now. We look forward to hearing more from President Biden on how he plans to follow the evidence, lead with heart and build on his own legacy as well as the legacy of previous presidents who have understood that any real safety agenda must include a robust commitment to second chances.”

We urge you to reach out to the team at FWD.us for the most recent polling and data on public safety and justice reforms, national and local policy expertise, and political analysis on how our elected officials can win and build the safer and more just country that all Americans want and deserve. 

Please feel free to reach out with any questions to press@fwd.us.