Senators propose sentencing reform to reduce prison overcrowding

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. senators on Thursday proposed a bipartisan plan for reforming criminal justice, aiming to ditch harsh sentencing laws that lead to prison overcrowding and to limit solitary confinement for juveniles.

The legislative proposal would end the national "three-strikes-and-you're-out" law, which mandates life sentences for people convicted of a violent felony after two or more previous convictions, including drug crimes.

The proposal would also give judges more leeway in sentencing low-level offenders, and improve prisoner rehabilitation programs. But under the measure, enhanced prison penalties could still be applied to offenders with prior convictions for serious violent offenses and serious drug felonies, a Senate fact sheet said.

The legislation was introduced by nine senators from both political parties, including Republican Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Dick Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/01/us-usa-crime-prisons-idUSKCN0RV5NZ20151001

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Politics | Thu Oct 1, 2015 4:29pm EDT
WASHINGTON

[JDPriestly]

1. Thank you, Bernie Sanders.

And they said that Bernie could not get things done in Congress.

Proved 'em wrong.

[Pastiche423]

4. Ditto

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. This has been too long in coming, and it ain't here yet. But it's a start. n/t

[lark]

3. Baby steps

I'd like to see them outlaw privatized prisons, get to the root of the issue and cut it out. It's long past time for 3 strikes and you're out to end, it was a terrible idea to begin with. I'd also like to see people not go to jail for the crime of being poor. There are lots of people in jail for traffic violations they couldn't pay and that's a travesty. Hey, I'm glad for the progress, but would definitely like to see the above ended.

[passiveporcupine]

5. We have a long way to go

But with Bernie we can do it!