sentencing reform
Johnson has spent two decades behind bars for nonviolent offenses.
But with the election of Donald J. Trump as the next president of the United States, criminal justice reforms are in jeopardy
Christopher Zoukis is the author of College for Convicts: The Case for Higher Education in American Prisons (McFarland & Co
Obama's White House counsel has said the president, even though a lame duck, will keep on granting clemencies in his final days in office.
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What will happen with the one U.S. Supreme Court vacancy after the death last February of Justice Antonin Scalia will undoubtedly be decided after the results of November's election. But the high court new term, which began October 3rd, already includes several major cases that could redefine the validity of sentences handed down to many inmates and the penalties they can legally face.
Some argue that race should not be used as a factor in sentencing, and the guidelines back up that point of view. They specifically
For all the bipartisan support, the nation’s highest level of government has yet to act.
The communities of faith, human service providers, civil rights, labor, and other advocates for low-income people represented in the Coalition on Human Needs call upon you to exercise leadership by taking these steps.
For 4,900 people serving sentences Congress itself deemed unfair, members of the Senate and House need not wait a day longer
Once incarcerated, Latinxs face limited economic opportunity, family trauma, turmoil, and deportation -- consequences that do not in any way reflect reasonable punishment for the often minor infractions that occur.
The bipartisan legislation, which would reduce mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenders, is waiting to be brought up for a vote.
There are two bills pending in Congress that could change that: Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S. 2123) and
There are two problems with threatening long sentences to extract cooperation from low-level drug offenders. This strategy is ineffective in impacting the drug trade. It also inflicts immense collateral damage on innocent people and low-level offenders, while letting the guiltiest offenders off more easily.
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell still needs convincing to back the revised legislation.
These are not steps in the right direction. They are remnants of a 1986 mentality, not 21st-century sentencing reform. Congress
While mostly ignored by the media (and almost completely ignored in the debates), the issue is going to become a lot more important in the general election, as many states will have recreational legalization ballot initiatives to vote on.
Ryan's got enough problems right now as it is, since he hasn't really gotten anything done in the House this year. Just like John Boehner before him, the Tea Party extremist faction is holding everything hostage and gumming up the works.