New Justice Department Policy Will Cut Federal Drug Sentences

[Tx4obama]

New Justice Department Policy Will Cut Federal Drug Sentences

Attorney General Eric Holder will announce a new policy on Thursday that may shorten sentences for federal drug offenders as part of his "Smart on Crime" initiative.

Holder is set to testify in front of the U.S. Sentencing Commission on Thursday and endorse changes to the commission's Drug Quantity Table. The changes would mean a two-level reduction in ranges of sentences for people convicted of federal drug crimes. For example, someone convicted of trafficking more than one kilogram of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine or 280 grams of crack would now trigger a Level 32 sentence -- 121 months to 151 months. If the Sentencing Commission passes the changes, it reduce that punishment to 97 months to 121 months.

In the meantime, Holder is instructing federal prosecutors not to object to any requests for sentence reductions based on the guidelines being considered by the commission. That means people serving time for federal drug crimes who ask for a reduction based on the proposed guidelines should receive one.

The government said the proposed change will affect 69.9 percent of drug trafficking offenders and will reduce the average sentence of a drug offender by about 11 months, or 17.7 percent of the average sentence.

-snip-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/13/eric-holder-drug-policy_n_4953468.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. A tip of the hat to Holder.

[msanthrope]

3. Indeed...but this thread will sink like a stone. nt

[Cha]

2. Good!

thanks Tx~

[indepat]

4. 'pukes will say this initiative is soft on crime whereas sanity and reason say it is an admission

that sentences were so ludicrously high as to be tantamount to cruel and unusual punishment.

[ProSense]

5. ACLU statement:

Holder Endorses Proposed Reduction of Drug Sentences

WASHINGTON – Attorney General endorsed a proposal to reduce prison sentences for certain nonviolent drug traffickers during testimony before the U.S. Sentencing Commission today. The proposed change would reduce the average sentence for drug traffickers by 11 months. The commission will vote on the proposal next month.

"Our country’s top prosecutor continues to show his dedication to ending the failed, racially biased war on drugs," said Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office. "With each proposed reform, we move closer to a criminal justice system that is smarter, fairer, and more humane. Attorney General Holder seems committed to making criminal law reform his legacy, and we’re eager to see what he does next."

Today’s endorsement is the latest in a series of sentencing reforms embraced by Holder. Last summer, he directed federal prosecutors to avoid mandatory minimum sentences for certain low-level, non-violent drug offense. He has also urged Congress to pass the Smarter Sentencing Act, which would significantly lower mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses and allow judges to use more discretion when determining sentences for non-violent drug offenses.

https://www.aclu.org/criminal-law-reform/holder-endorses-proposed-reduction-drug-sentences