Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offenders

[SlyPokerDog]

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is set to announce Monday that low-level, nonviolent drug offenders with no ties to gangs or large-scale drug organizations will no longer be charged with offenses that impose severe mandatory sentences. The new Justice Department policy is part of a comprehensive prison reform package that Holder will reveal in a speech to the American Bar Association in San Francisco, according to senior department officials. He is also expected to introduce a policy to reduce sentences for elderly, nonviolent inmates and find alternatives to prison for nonviolent criminals.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...3850c2-012c-11e3-96a8-d3b921c0924a_story.html

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

The cost of incarceration in the United States was $80 billion in 2010, according to the Justice Department. While the U.S. population has increased by about a third since 1980, the federal prison population has grown by about 800 percent. Justice Department officials said federal prisons are operating at nearly 40 percent over capacity.

 

[oldguy]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

If the jails are full, cane them on the courthouse lawn for the minor stuff.

Go Blazers

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

I think this or something similar has to happen. Don't see a way around it. It becomes a big issue when one of those minor guys who were let go decides to do something major though. Then people say he should have been in jail and then he couldn't have done this.

 

[Denny Crane]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

He's doing the right thing. Too bad it's him doing it.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

I have come around to this line of thinking myself.

 

[Nate4Prez]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

According to this, the US has 2,292,133 people in prison. That is as much as the next 8 countries combined. Our justice system is a disaster and I commend Holder for what he is trying to do.

 

[ppilot]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

There's a documentary called "The House I Live in" that goes into the massive negative impact the war on drugs has had on the country and the prison system. Highly recommended.

 

[Denny Crane]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

According to this, the US has 2,292,133 people in prison. That is as much as the next 8 countries combined. Our justice system is a disaster and I commend Holder for what he is trying to do.

Probably 90% of them (I pulled that number out of thin air) serving time for marijuana related crimes, too. legalize it and you can set people free, and there will be a lot less crime (by definition).

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

I think it is a good idea

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

So long as their only crime is possession or use then we should spend time rehabing them.

 

[Denny Crane]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

http://news.yahoo.com/dr--sanjay-gupta-comes-out-in-favor-of-marijuana-233711723.html

Been in the news the past week or so.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

So long as their only crime is possession or use then we should spend time rehabing them.

Rehab is cheaper than locking them up.

 

[PapaG]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is set to announce Monday that low-level, nonviolent drug offenders with no ties to gangs or large-scale drug organizations will no longer be charged with offenses that impose severe mandatory sentences. The new Justice Department policy is part of a comprehensive prison reform package that Holder will reveal in a speech to the American Bar Association in San Francisco, according to senior department officials. He is also expected to introduce a policy to reduce sentences for elderly, nonviolent inmates and find alternatives to prison for nonviolent criminals.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...3850c2-012c-11e3-96a8-d3b921c0924a_story.html

One of the few times I've agreed with Eric Holder, if the federal prosecutors actually are going to follow it as Holder explains it.

 

[PapaG]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

According to this, the US has 2,292,133 people in prison. That is as much as the next 8 countries combined. Our justice system is a disaster and I commend Holder for what he is trying to do.

China, North Korea, and Russia don't release their prison numbers, but whatever. I read the "sourcing", and found some of the sources laughable when looking at them on the internet.

China only having 1.65m is absolutely hilarious, by the way.

 

[MickZagger]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

Strict probation and halfway houses should suffice.

 

[MARIS61]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

This is hilarious. Holder has personally led an all out assault on LEGAL medical marijuana users and growers for several years, jailing them, ruining their lives...Suddenly he does a 180?

Let's try to guess his ulterior motive, because it's not what he claims it is.

 

[jlprk]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

China, North Korea, and Russia don't release their prison numbers, but whatever. I read the "sourcing", and found some of the sources laughable when looking at them on the internet.

China only having 1.65m is absolutely hilarious, by the way.

China and Russia do. In fact, you just quoted the number.

What has happened to your mind?

 

[MARIS61]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende

Do slave labor camps count?

 

[bluefrog]

Re: Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offende