How many pardons did Joe Biden give is a question many Americans are asking as they review the final clemency actions issued during his presidency. By the end of his term, President Joe Biden granted 80 presidential pardons and more than 4,000 commutations, making his total volume of clemency one of the largest of any modern president. These numbers reflect a presidency that put significant focus on criminal justice reform, prioritizing sentence reductions while offering a smaller number of full pardons.
The totals offer important insight into Biden’s approach to federal clemency, the types of individuals who received relief, and how his choices fit into larger national trends in sentencing and rehabilitation.
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What a presidential pardon means — and how Biden used it
A presidential pardon forgives a federal conviction and can restore rights lost because of that conviction, such as eligibility for federal employment, the ability to serve on a jury, or access to certain benefits. Pardons are often reserved for cases where the recipient has demonstrated rehabilitation long after completing their sentence.
During his presidency, Biden issued 80 pardons, most of which went to individuals with older, nonviolent federal convictions. Many of these recipients had already served their time, rebuilt their lives, and continued contributing to their communities. The purpose of these pardons was often to remove the burdens tied to a decades-old conviction that limited employment, housing access, or educational opportunities.
Biden’s use of pardons was selective, consistent, and tied to long-term rehabilitation—rather than large-scale forgiveness applied broadly.
Why Biden granted so many commutations
A commutation shortens a federal sentence or releases someone from custody, but it does not erase the conviction. This form of clemency is typically granted to people still serving a sentence.
Biden issued thousands of commutations, focusing heavily on nonviolent drug offenses and individuals serving long sentences imposed under older federal sentencing laws. This strategy reflected several priorities:
- addressing sentencing disparities from previous decades
- reducing excessively long mandatory minimums
- supporting reentry for people who demonstrated rehabilitation
- expanding relief to individuals placed on home confinement during the pandemic
Large groups of commutations were issued at once, which contributed to Biden’s total exceeding 4,000. It signaled a shift toward using clemency to correct systemic sentencing issues rather than only individual cases.
Why Biden’s numbers stand out
Biden’s clemency totals differ from many recent presidents in three major ways:
1. High number of commutations
His total of more than 4,000 sentence reductions is one of the largest in modern presidential history.
2. Lower number of pardons
At 80 pardons, Biden granted fewer pardons than several past presidents, choosing instead to prioritize sentence reductions.
3. Large, coordinated batches of clemency
Instead of issuing a small number of individual actions over time, Biden often released hundreds or thousands of commutations at once. This is rare and represents a deliberate effort to make immediate changes to federal prison populations.
These distinctions shape public opinion about Biden’s criminal-justice legacy — with supporters praising the scale of relief and critics questioning whether group actions can review each case thoroughly.
Who benefited from Biden’s clemency actions
Clemency recipients fit several broad categories. Many shared similar backgrounds and circumstances:
Individuals with nonviolent federal drug convictions
Many were sentenced under older drug laws that imposed harsh penalties and limited judicial flexibility. These individuals often received long sentences disproportionate to modern standards.
People on long-term home confinement
During the pandemic, thousands of federal inmates were moved to home confinement. Many successfully reintegrated into society. Biden granted permanent clemency to a significant portion of this group so they would not be returned to prison.
Older individuals or those with medical vulnerabilities
Some commutations were issued to help reduce health risks linked to incarceration. These actions often prioritized people who had already served many years.
People with excellent rehabilitation records
Education, vocational training, and service programs played a role in determining eligibility. Many individuals granted clemency had years of documented positive behavior.
While each case had its own circumstances, Biden’s clemency decisions focused heavily on fairness, rehabilitation, and modernizing outdated sentencing outcomes.
Impact on families and communities
The human impact of Biden’s clemency actions is significant. Families welcomed home loved ones who had not been expected to return for years. Communities reconnected with residents who returned prepared to work, parent, volunteer, and rebuild their lives.
In many cases, clemency recipients left prison with support from community organizations and advocacy groups, which helped ease transitions. Biden’s actions also renewed discussion about reentry programs, with many calling for stronger federal support to ensure long-term success.
How Biden’s clemency shaped national conversations
The spotlight on Biden’s clemency totals reflects broader debates about criminal-justice reform. Several themes emerged:
1. Sentencing fairness
Many Americans believe older federal drug laws created unjust outcomes. Biden’s commutations highlighted how many of those sentences remain in place decades later.
2. Public safety concerns
Some critics argued that large-scale clemency must be carefully reviewed to protect communities. Supporters countered that Biden’s focus on nonviolent cases minimized risk.
3. Executive power
Presidential clemency is one of the strongest tools available to a president. Biden’s use of that power — especially in group actions — gives future administrations a model for large-scale reform.
4. Political implications
Clemency decisions often become talking points across political lines. Biden’s numbers have influenced both support and criticism from policymakers, legal experts, and advocacy groups.
Why the total matters now
As Americans review Biden’s presidency, the question of how many pardons he granted goes beyond statistics. It reflects national views on justice, rehabilitation, and how the federal system should respond to outdated sentencing laws.
Biden’s decision to issue 80 pardons, alongside thousands of commutations, reshaped conversations around:
- prison reform
- equity in sentencing
- the role of rehabilitation
- presidential responsibility in correcting past injustices
Whether one agrees with his approach or not, the impact is undeniable: tens of thousands of Americans were affected either directly or through a family member’s release or record relief.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how many pardons Joe Biden gave helps clarify how clemency shaped his presidency and how it affected thousands of families across the country. With 80 pardons and a sweeping number of commutations, his actions left a lasting mark on federal criminal-justice policy.
Share your thoughts below on how you believe future presidents should use clemency — your perspective helps shape the national conversation.