On Tuesday, his last day in office, North Carolina Democrat Governor Roy Cooper, emulating President Joe Biden, commuted the sentences of 15 men on death row to life imprisonment.

Cooper was succeeded by Democrat Josh Stein on Wednesday. Last week, President Joe Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of 40 inmates on federal death row.

“These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a Governor can make and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose,” Cooper said in a statement. “After thorough review, reflection, and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted, while ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.”

“Before today’s commutations, North Carolina had 136 offenders on death row and the Governor’s Clemency Office received petitions for clemency from 89 of them. The Governor’s Office carefully reviewed, researched, and considered these 89 petitions for commutations, which included the 15 that were granted today,” the statement concluded.

Cooper listed factors that influenced his decision, including:

• Facts and circumstances of the crime
• Whether a murder was particularly heinous and cruel
• Input from prosecutors in the county of conviction
• Input from family members of victims
• Defendant’s criminal history
• Defendant’s conduct and activity in prison
• Mental and intellectual capacity of the defendant at the time of the crime
• Credible claims of innocence
• The potential influence of race, such as the race of the defendant and victim, composition of the jury pool and the final jury, and evidence and testimony offered at trial
• Sentences received by co-defendants
• Whether plea agreements for a lesser sentence were offered prior to trial
• Age of defendant at the time of the crime
• Current age, health, and mental capacity of the defendant
• Adequacy of legal representation at trial and on appeal
• Laws governing capital punishment at the time of conviction
• Juror actions and statements

“State Department of Adult Correction records list 13 of the 15 receiving clemency as Black,” NPR noted.