Crockett Applauds Biden for Answering Call to Commute Sentences of Those Convicted on Non-Violent Crack Cocaine Offenses

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswomen Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) applauded President Biden for answering her call to commute the sentences of 2,500 non-violent drug offenders, including individuals serving longer sentences for crack cocaine offenses as a result of the sentencing disparities established during the 1980s and 1990s "War On Drugs." This comes after Rep. Crockett led a letter with 20 of her congressional colleagues calling on President Biden to right this historical wrong and commute the sentences of those still serving time on convictions that would receive far shorter sentences today.   

"With today’s action, President Joe Biden has now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in history. In doing so, President Biden has wielded his executive power to identify and correct the impacts of our country’s failed criminal justice policies of the past and build upon his legacy of ensuring equitable and restorative justice. 

"Over the last several months, I have worked and spoken with civil rights organizations and the Biden Administration to address the vestiges of failed drug policies of the 1980s that have disproportionately impacted communities of color—particularly the Black community. One of these policies is the criminal sentencing disparity between crack cocaine offences and powder cocaine offenses. To be clear, scientific research has disproven the inaccurate assumptions that were used to justify making crack cocaine offenses subject to harsher criminal sentences than powder cocaine. In fact, the U.S. Sentencing Commission and scientific research have reported there is no difference between crack cocaine and powder cocaine, as both produce the same physiological and psychotropic effects. But, because this disparity has continued, our country has had significant portions of our communities of color locked away for unconscionable lengths of time simply because the individual had a different form of cocaine than someone else.   

"Recognizing the unique clemency power vested to President Biden, I led a campaign supported by 20 of my colleagues in the House and Senate this December calling on the President to commute the sentences of individuals convicted of crack cocaine offenses to sentence lengths had they been charged with powder cocaine offenses. And today President Biden did just that.  

"As a member of Congress, it is often hard to quantify the impact of our work. But the action taken by President Biden today will have a tangible, life-changing impact for over 2,500 individuals whose sentences are now commuted, to say nothing of the impact on their family and friends. I am eternally grateful to President Biden for showing the country and the world what true servant leadership looks like. In the years ahead, I look forward to working with my colleagues in my new role as a member of the House Judiciary Committee towards creating a fairer criminal justice system built on recovery, reentry, and restoration."

Congresswoman Crockett has been appointed to the position of Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, and will also serve as a member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement. A full copy of Congresswoman Crockett's letter sent on December 16, 2024 can be found here, with text appearing below.