COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Families of crime victims and those impacted by convictions on federal death row experienced a mixture of emotions on Monday after President Joe Biden decided to commute the sentences of numerous inmates. The commutation has sparked reactions ranging from relief to anger within these communities.
President Biden altered the sentences of 37 individuals previously sentenced to death to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This group includes those found guilty of murdering police officers, military personnel, federal inmates, and guards. Others in this category were involved in fatal armed robberies and drug trafficking incidents.
However, three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof, sentenced for the 2015 racially motivated killings of nine Black parishioners at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber; and Robert Bowers, who killed 11 members of a Jewish congregation in Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018, marking the deadliest antisemitic attack in the nation’s history.
Advocates against the death penalty praised Biden’s decision, which has been a longstanding request from them. Conversely, supporters of the previous administration’s stance on the death penalty, including Donald Trump, criticized the action just weeks prior to Biden’s inauguration.
Notable reactions came from individuals personally affected by these crimes. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was murdered by an inmate now spared from execution, expressed that the execution would not have provided him with peace. He stated, “The president has done what is right here,” according to comments released by the White House.
On the other side of the spectrum, Marissa Gibson, the widow of the slain officer, described Biden’s decision as alarming and a “complete dismissal and undermining of the federal justice system,” lamenting the potential effects on victims’ families.
Tim Timmerman, whose daughter was murdered in an attempt to prevent her from testifying in a rape case, criticized the commutation, emphasizing that it resulted in only more pain for families affected by such violence. He questioned, “Where’s the justice in just giving him a prison bed to die comfortably in?” during a broadcast interview.
In another case, Heather Turner, who lost her mother in a bank robbery in South Carolina, referred to the decision as a severe misuse of authority, stating in a Facebook post that the president failed to consider the victims and their families.
The emotional divide extends to families of victims in the case of Dylann Roof, where opinions are varied. Although some have offered him forgiveness, others still seek capital punishment for his actions. Felicia Sanders, a survivor of the Amos Church shooting, conveyed her gratitude towards Biden’s decision not to spare Roof’s life, viewing it as a much-appreciated Christmas present.
However, Rev. Sharon Risher, whose family was directly impacted, criticized the President for his decisions concerning Roof, expressing a desire for an understanding of how death penalty cases tie victims’ families into emotional limbo while awaiting execution.
Political responses were prompt, with advocacy groups praising Biden for the commutation, viewing it as a significant stride away from inhumane justice practices. The ACLU’s executive director remarked that the decisions highlight a shift away from “brutal and inhumane policies” of the past.
Conversely, Republican figures including Sen. Tom Cotton denounced Biden’s actions, suggesting that the decision favored criminals over their victims. Cotton asserted that the move contradicted a principled stance against the death penalty.
Among those whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, who were serving time for a bank robbery that resulted in a guard’s death. Holder’s attorney noted the racial bias present in his sentencing, expressing hope that the commutation might offer some closure to the victim’s family, while others expressed disappointment, arguing it sends a troubling message about accountability for violent acts.
In summary, Biden’s decision has ignited discussions on justice, victim’s rights, and the ethics surrounding capital punishment, revealing deep divides in sentiment and belief about the role of the death penalty within the criminal justice system.
