A Harsh Turn: What Happened to 37 Men After Biden's Mercy

In a surprising turn of events, 37 men who were spared from the death penalty by former President Joe Biden now face extreme conditions under the Trump administration. Biden commuted their sentences to life in prison, but the Trump administration has taken steps to make their lives as difficult as possible. Ten of these men were moved to ADX Florence, a notorious maximum-security prison in Colorado known for its solitary confinement. Two others were sent to states where prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty again. The rest are in limbo, waiting to be transferred to ADX. The uncertainty has taken a toll on them, with one prisoner attempting suicide. The Trump administration claims these men deserve harsh treatment due to their violent crimes. However, interviews and documents suggest that the Department of Justice's actions may violate federal policy and could be unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is representing 21 of these prisoners in lawsuits against Trump and the federal government. Federal rules require objective decisions about where prisoners should be transferred, considering factors like security, health, and programmatic needs. ADX Florence is designed for prisoners who pose extraordinary security risks. However, many of the 37 men do not meet these criteria. Some have serious medical or mental health conditions that require higher levels of care than ADX can provide.Before Trump took office, officials were evaluating these prisoners for placement in prisons where they could be part of the general population. But Trump's executive order changed that. The order directed the Attorney General to ensure these offenders were imprisoned in conditions consistent with the severity of their crimes. As a result, the prisoners were evaluated for placement in ADX. Documents show that sending these men to ADX may violate current DOJ and Bureau of Prison policy. Some prisoners' care records were changed to match ADX's requirements, despite no significant changes in their health. Moreover, their discipline records do not support their transfer to ADX. Many have no history of violence or escape attempts. The move to ADX is also problematic because it separates prisoners from their communities. ADX is more than 500 miles away from the districts where these men were sentenced, making it difficult for them to maintain ties with their families and support networks. The psychological impact of these transfers is severe. Some prisoners have expressed suicidal thoughts and attempts. The threat of being moved to ADX has caused significant mental distress. A former ADX psychologist believes the government's actions are directly linked to the prisoners' suicidal thoughts and attempts.