INDIANAPOLIS — In the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history, President Joe Biden has pardoned 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. One of the pardon recipients is a woman from Indianapolis.
According to a White House news release sent Thursday, Emily Good Nelson of Indianapolis will receive a pardon from President Biden for a nearly 20-year-old drug conviction.
Nelson, 39, was convicted of several non-violent drug offenses when she was 19 years old. She has since been released from prison and is now active in the community.
"Since her release, she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and now works in the healthcare field," the White House said. "She has spoken publicly about drug use and has volunteered as a counselor at an in-patient psychiatric facility."
The White House concluded by saying that Nelson is described as kind, tremendously talented and committed to helping others in recovery.
Nelson's pardon is one of 39 granted on Thursday by Biden. Additionally, the President commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the AP, it is the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The second largest single-day act of clemency was by Barack Obama, with 330, shortly before leaving office in 2017. Biden said he will continue to review clemency petitions in the coming weeks.
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said. “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 offenses.”
The mass clemency move from Biden follows a broad pardon earlier this month for his son Hunter - who was prosecuted on gun and tax crimes. The President now faces pressure from activist groups to pardon more people before Donald Trump is inaugurated as President in January.
U.S. Rep. André Carson, D-Ind. District 7, released a statement on the pardons Thursday:
“Our criminal justice system should provide accountability, punishment, and restitution when the law is broken, and no one should ever be above the law. But justice must also allow for rehabilitation and restoration back into our communities when debts have been paid to society. Hoosiers believe in fairness and second chances. President Biden’s 39 pardons today – including one from Indianapolis – and commutations for 1,499 individuals will help bring more fairness and balance to our judicial system. These actions will reunite separated families and open doors to reintegrate into their communities. I commend President Biden for recognizing the rehabilitation of these individuals and for providing second chances. I hope to see more pardons to come. I also hope today’s pardons send a message of hope to all those struggling with addiction, especially during the challenging time of the holidays. Recovery is possible.” - Carson
For more information on the pardons and commutations, click here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.