COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Families of crime victims expressed a spectrum of emotions following President Joe Biden’s recent decision to commute the sentences of numerous federal death row inmates. This move sparked reactions ranging from relief to anger.
President Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The individuals affected include those convicted of murdering police, military personnel, and federal prisoners, as well as individuals involved in violent robberies and dangerous drug trafficking.
Among the inmates remaining on federal death row are Dylann Roof, convicted of the 2015 mass shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 2013 Boston Marathon bomber; and Robert Bowers, responsible for the 2018 shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Opponents of the death penalty praised Biden for a long-sought change, while supporters of a more robust capital punishment stance criticized the decision just weeks before the new administration assumes office.
Retired Ohio police officer Donnie Oliverio, whose partner was killed by one of the commuted inmates, expressed that the execution of the individual responsible would not have provided him peace. “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio stated, aligning his sentiments with his faith.
Conversely, Heather Turner, whose mother was murdered during a South Carolina bank robbery, condemned Biden’s decision as a “clear gross abuse of power,” claiming her time spent seeking justice in court felt wasted.
The families of Roof’s victims have had mixed reactions to his sentenced punishment. Some have offered forgiveness but still desire the death penalty for his actions.
Felicia Sanders, a survivor of the shooting, reflected on Biden’s decision, calling it a “wonderful Christmas gift.” Michael Graham, whose sister was killed by Roof, emphasized the significance of Roof’s actions, describing them as a crime against a race of people.
Rev. Sharon Richer, whose family members were victims, criticized the decision not to clear the death row roster entirely. She expressed how the case brings ongoing trauma for victims’ families, stating, “It’s like reliving the massacre all over again.”
Critics like Abraham Bonowitz from Death Penalty Action highlighted the implications of leaving specific inmates on death row, suggesting it inadvertently provides them a platform to promote their extremist ideologies.
Among those whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, convicted of murdering a bank guard during a 1997 heist in St. Louis. Holder’s attorney emphasized the racial disparities in his case, thanking Biden for the commutation, and underscoring the importance of addressing systemic flaws.
The implications of these commutations resonate deeply with families impacted by violent crimes and the ongoing debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States.
