Joe Biden gives life to 37 inmates sentenced to death ensuring they will not face execution under the federal government’s authority

Joe Biden gives life to 37 inmates sentenced to death ensuring they will not face execution under the federal government’s authority

In a significant move, President Joe Biden has granted life sentences to 37 death row inmates, ensuring they will not face execution under the federal government’s authority. This action marks an important shift in U.S. federal criminal justice policy, as the Biden administration continues its efforts to abolish the federal death penalty. According to a report by The Times of Israel, Biden’s decision prevents any potential future actions by former President Donald Trump to reinstate federal executions for these individuals, as Trump had previously signaled support for executing federal prisoners.

Biden’s stance on the death penalty has been clear from the start of his presidency. In 2021, he imposed a moratorium on federal executions and has consistently advocated for the abolition of capital punishment. His recent actions reflect a broader push within the administration to reshape the criminal justice system in a more humane direction. The 37 inmates whose sentences were commuted had previously been convicted of federal crimes that could have led to their execution, but now they will spend the rest of their lives in prison without the possibility of a death sentence.

This decision comes at a time when the U.S. has been grappling with debates over the fairness and morality of the death penalty. In recent years, public opinion has increasingly shifted against the practice, and states like California and Virginia have taken steps to either abolish or impose moratoriums on capital punishment.

Biden’s actions align with these trends, as the President seeks to reflect evolving public attitudes on criminal justice reform.

Ihab Hassan, a Palestinian Christian human rights activist, has raised alarms over escalating threats in Jenin, highlighting concerns from Hamas and Islamic Jihad regarding suicide bombings aimed at the Palestinian Authority.

In a post on his verified X page on Monday, Hassan underscored the increasing violence perpetrated by these militant groups in the northern West Bank.

He pointed out that the militants are intensifying their terrorist tactics, openly threatening the Palestinian Authority with suicide bombings should it attempt to enter the densely populated Jenin refugee camp. This volatile situation not only endangers local civilians but also undermines the authority’s efforts to establish order.

Here’s what Hassan said on his Verified X page,

“Hamas and Islamic Jihad militias in Jenin, northern West Bank, have taken their terrorism to a dangerously escalating level, threatening the Palestinian Authority with suicide bombings inside the Jenin refugee camp—a densely populated civilian area—if they attempt to enter.”