Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that he was pardoning 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes and commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 others who were serving long prison terms.

Biden said he will "take more steps in the weeks ahead" and continue to review clemency petitions to advance "equal justice under the law."

Three Minnesota women are among the 39 people President Biden pardoned Thursday morning. Many of the pardons are for long-ago, non-violent drug offenses. Biden also commuted the sentences of nearly 1,

President Joe Biden said Thursday that he was pardoning 39 people who were convicted of non-violent crimes and was commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 people on home confinement, who he said have "shown successful rehabilitation and have shown commitment to making their communities stronger and safer.