The moves come over a week after the outgoing president signed an unconditional pardon for his son Hunter.
Officials said last week that the White House was listening to demands for Biden to extend the same grace to thousands of people wronged by the US judicial system.
Today, I'm pardoning 39 people with non-violent crimes who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, and I'm commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 others – many of whom would have received lower sentences today.— President Biden (@POTUS) America was built on second chances. That's what these… pic.twitter.com/OigPcN8qkJDecember 12, 2024
Biden said the people he granted clemency would have received shorter sentences if charged under today's laws, policies and practices.
Sources had told Reuters last week that the pardons being discussed included those convicted of nonviolent drug offences and people identified by civil rights groups as unjustly incarcerated.
"As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offences," Biden said.
The president added he will take more steps in the weeks ahead and that his administration will continue reviewing clemency petitions.
The commutations announced were for those who were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the spread of the virus, experts say, rather than many individuals civil rights groups have been advocating for.
"We want Biden to look at those people and consider using his power even more in the upcoming weeks," said Tierra Bradford, senior program manager at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Ayanna Pressley, one of the leading Democrats behind a letter to Biden last month urging him to issue clemency to Americans with nonviolent offences, commended the president for taking "meaningful and historic action."
Her statement noted that he could take further steps to exercise his power during his remaining 39 days in office.
Thanks to — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) @POTUS' historic clemency announcement, 1,500 families will have their lives changed forever.My full statement: pic.twitter.com/f1r9ZYWqMCDecember 12, 2024
The White House confirmed the clemencies granted by Biden were the most ever in a single day.
"The president takes this very, very seriously, and is going to review all options, especially ... the clemency petitions," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has said he would act on his first day in office to pardon rioters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, further building expectations for a broad granting of clemency.
