The president has significant powers to grant clemency and pardons, and historically presidents have used that power broadly. But today’s hierarchical process at DOJ results in relatively few and conservative clemency recommendations.
Today I'm announcing that, in a Warren administration, we will create a clemency board that will prioritize cases of older Americans incarcerated for unduly long sentences and establish a presumption of release, unless the board finds a danger to public safety.
Data show that people tend to age out of crime and are less likely to recidivate, but thousands of elderly people remain behind bars. Those serving sentences equivalent to life are disproportionately Black and Brown, many for nonviolent crimes or crimes committed as juveniles.
At the same time, overcrowded prisons too often fail to meet basic human rights standards. Under existing conditions, these sentences are inhumane. A president can use her clemency powers to right systemic injustice—and I plan to do just that.
I'm grateful to @CoryBooker for leading on criminal justice reform and consistently highlighting this issue. And thank you to @BlackWomxnFor for challenging me to join him. I ask you to continue holding me accountable.
Read my full, updated plan here. elizabethwarren.com/plans/criminal…
Read my full, updated plan here. elizabethwarren.com/plans/criminal…
