John Ashcroft limits plea bargains [View All]

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Astoundingly this story seems not to have made the cut for GD today. I think this is pretty important.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/23/politics/23ASHC.html?ex=1064894400&en=6bf234330def9c61&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

ASHINGTON, Sept. 22 — Attorney General John Ashcroft today made it tougher for federal prosecutors to strike plea bargains with criminal defendants, requiring attorneys to seek the most serious charges possible in almost all cases.

The policy directive issued by Mr. Ashcroft is the latest in a series of steps the Justice Department has taken in recent months to combat what it sees as dangerously lenient practices by some federal prosecutors and judges.

The move also effectively expands to the entire gamut of federal crimes the attorney general's tough stance on the death penalty, which he has sought in numerous cases over the objections of federal prosecutors.

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This is a major change and will lead to a huge increase in both the death penalty long prison terms for low level drug defendents.