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A group of 66 members of Congress is calling on President Joe Biden to take decisive action against mass incarceration, urging him to use his clemency authority to address longstanding inequities in the U.S. legal system. In a letter sent November 20, the lawmakers pressed Biden to act during the remainder of his presidency, framing the issue as both a moral and financial crisis.
The letter draws attention to the nearly 2 million people incarcerated in the U.S., with marginalized communities—particularly people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, low-income families, and those with disabilities—bearing the brunt of the system’s inequities. Lawmakers described the prison system as a driver of social instability, fostering generational harm and eroding public trust in justice.
The financial cost of incarceration was also a focal point, with the letter noting that the U.S. spends $182 billion annually to maintain its prison system. This expenditure, they pointed out, dwarfs the entire Department of Education budget and often targets individuals convicted of non-violent crimes.
“Too many resources are being devoted to imprisoning people who pose little to no threat to public safety,” the letter asserted, highlighting that 90% of the federal prison population is convicted of non-violent offenses.
The lawmakers commended Biden’s past efforts, including his pardons for federal cannabis possession offenses in 2022 and 2023, as important steps toward justice. However, they argued for broader use of clemency powers, suggesting that relief be extended to groups such as elderly prisoners, those with severe health conditions, individuals on death row, and women who acted in self-defense against abusive partners.
“Mass incarceration reflects deep flaws in our justice system and continues to impose profound harm on vulnerable communities,” the lawmakers wrote. “This is a crisis that demands urgent action.”
The appeal underscores growing calls for systemic reform and reflects a broader push to reimagine a justice system that critics argue has relied too heavily on incarceration at the expense of equity and rehabilitation.
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