The Safe Justice Act (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

At last a bipartisan effort to deal with over criminalization? Apparently both Boehner and Obama support this:

http://famm.org/safe-justice-act-does-more-than-tinker-around-the-edges-of-federal-sentencing-reform/

If passed, the SAFE Justice Act would bring the federal criminal justice system up-to-date with evidence-based and cost-effective practices adopted in many states, as well as re-focus federal law enforcement and its limited resources on the highest-level drug offenders. Among other provisions, the bill would

• Reserve lengthy mandatory minimum sentences for federal drug offenders who are high-level leaders and organizers of the criminal activity, as Congress originally intended, rather than the low-level offenders who often face mandatory minimum sentences today;
• Create broader “safety valve” exceptions to mandatory minimum drug sentences to ensure that lengthy prison sentences are not used for nonviolent people with minor criminal records or histories of mental illness, drug addiction, or trauma from abuse or domestic violence;
• Reduce re-offending by giving federal prisoners sentence reductions for completing job training, drug treatment, and mental health programs that reduce their risk of recidivism;
• Enhance safety by urging Congress to reinvest the bill’s savings into law enforcement needs, including body cameras, blue alerts, and better training on mental health and drug abuse issues;
• Make the reforms to the Fair Sentencing Act retroactively applicable to federal crack cocaine offenders sentenced under the unfair 100-to-1 crack-powder disparity before 2010;
• Divert nonviolent, first-time offenders to accountability courts that keep people connected to their families, address drug addiction and mental illness, and cost a fraction of the price of prison.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

It's still just a band aid trying to cover up for the fact that the government makes a crime to consume the wrong type of intoxicant.

 

[timschochet]

It's still just a band aid trying to cover up for the fact that the government makes a crime to consume the wrong type of intoxicant.

Whehter or not I agree with you (and truthfully I go back and forth: there are certain drugs I just don't want to see legal under any circumstances) the practical matter is that the political will for decriminalizing ALL narcotics and ending the drug war is not there, and probably won't be there for some time, if ever. So we need to fix what we can. Surely some of these ideas represent a significant improvement on what's happening right now?

 

[Charlie Steiner]

recidivism

That there is one bonehead word.

 

[timschochet]

recidivism

That there is one bonehead word.

Why?

 

[Clifford]

At last a bipartisan effort to deal with over criminalization? Apparently both Boehner and Obama support this:

http://famm.org/safe-justice-act-does-more-than-tinker-around-the-edges-of-federal-sentencing-reform/

If passed, the SAFE Justice Act would bring the federal criminal justice system up-to-date with evidence-based and cost-effective practices adopted in many states, as well as re-focus federal law enforcement and its limited resources on the highest-level drug offenders. Among other provisions, the bill would

• Reserve lengthy mandatory minimum sentences for federal drug offenders who are high-level leaders and organizers of the criminal activity, as Congress originally intended, rather than the low-level offenders who often face mandatory minimum sentences today;
• Create broader “safety valve” exceptions to mandatory minimum drug sentences to ensure that lengthy prison sentences are not used for nonviolent people with minor criminal records or histories of mental illness, drug addiction, or trauma from abuse or domestic violence;
• Reduce re-offending by giving federal prisoners sentence reductions for completing job training, drug treatment, and mental health programs that reduce their risk of recidivism;
• Enhance safety by urging Congress to reinvest the bill’s savings into law enforcement needs, including body cameras, blue alerts, and better training on mental health and drug abuse issues;
• Make the reforms to the Fair Sentencing Act retroactively applicable to federal crack cocaine offenders sentenced under the unfair 100-to-1 crack-powder disparity before 2010;
• Divert nonviolent, first-time offenders to accountability courts that keep people connected to their families, address drug addiction and mental illness, and cost a fraction of the price of prison.

No way this ever passes. It is sensical and reasonable and would actually solve problems instead of creating them. Dead as soon as it hits the floor. God I ####### hate our politicians.

 

[timschochet]

At last a bipartisan effort to deal with over criminalization? Apparently both Boehner and Obama support this:

http://famm.org/safe-justice-act-does-more-than-tinker-around-the-edges-of-federal-sentencing-reform/

If passed, the SAFE Justice Act would bring the federal criminal justice system up-to-date with evidence-based and cost-effective practices adopted in many states, as well as re-focus federal law enforcement and its limited resources on the highest-level drug offenders. Among other provisions, the bill would

• Reserve lengthy mandatory minimum sentences for federal drug offenders who are high-level leaders and organizers of the criminal activity, as Congress originally intended, rather than the low-level offenders who often face mandatory minimum sentences today;
• Create broader “safety valve” exceptions to mandatory minimum drug sentences to ensure that lengthy prison sentences are not used for nonviolent people with minor criminal records or histories of mental illness, drug addiction, or trauma from abuse or domestic violence;
• Reduce re-offending by giving federal prisoners sentence reductions for completing job training, drug treatment, and mental health programs that reduce their risk of recidivism;
• Enhance safety by urging Congress to reinvest the bill’s savings into law enforcement needs, including body cameras, blue alerts, and better training on mental health and drug abuse issues;
• Make the reforms to the Fair Sentencing Act retroactively applicable to federal crack cocaine offenders sentenced under the unfair 100-to-1 crack-powder disparity before 2010;
• Divert nonviolent, first-time offenders to accountability courts that keep people connected to their families, address drug addiction and mental illness, and cost a fraction of the price of prison.

No way this ever passes. It is sensical and reasonable and would actually solve problems instead of creating them. Dead as soon as it hits the floor. God I ####### hate our politicians.

Why so negative? It seems to have the support of the leadership of both sides. Be optimistic.

 

[timschochet]

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/a-new-beginning-for-criminal-justice-reform-119822

Also supported by Koch Industries and the ACLU. Talk about unlikely bedfellows...

 

[RCon]

Having read only your summary, I'd be wildly in favor. As IvanK noted, however, it's still just a band-aid on the gaping wound that is the War on Drugs, but still, something is better than nothing, I suppose.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Having read only your summary, I'd be wildly in favor.

I didn't read the summary, but having read the name of the act, I'm inclined to agree.

 

[RCon]

Having read only your summary, I'd be wildly in favor.

I didn't read the summary, but having read the name of the act, I'm inclined to agree.

Well, I am impressed that they didn't go for a cheesy acronym that has nothing at all to do with the legislation contained therein.

 

[timschochet]

Having read only your summary, I'd be wildly in favor. As IvanK noted, however, it's still just a band-aid on the gaping wound that is the War on Drugs, but still, something is better than nothing, I suppose.

One of the reasons that I favor Hillary Clinton (though she has nothing to do with this) is that I think she attempts to do what is possible rather than cling to ideology. That, of course, gets her and others like her attacked by purists on both sides, who in their heart of hearts really don't like compromise. Yet compromise is how most good things in government get done. The main problem with Obamacare, and the source of it's illegitimacy, is that no Republicans voted for it. The same cannot be said of either Social Security or Medicare, which is a major reason both have lasted for so long.

All that's digression of course, yet it's the same idea here. I share most of yours and Ivan's concerns about the War on Drugs, but its impractical to think that we're simply going to end it. So we have to do what we can and appeal, hopefully, to common sense on both sides. Of course, Clifford may be right and this bill may never be passed. We'll have to see.

 

[worrierking]

Tim, why would you be surprised that the Koch brothers support this and call them and the ACLU strange bedfellows?

 

[timschochet]

Tim, why would you be surprised that the Koch brothers support this and call them and the ACLU strange bedfellows?

Not surprised that Koch supports this. But a little surprised they would join ACLU in an editorial. That was the source of my comment. I'm not at all unhappy about it BTW.

 

[Sand]

Having read only your summary, I'd be wildly in favor. As IvanK noted, however, it's still just a band-aid on the gaping wound that is the War on Drugs, but still, something is better than nothing, I suppose.

Don't make perfect the enemy of the good. It seems to have support and is a good start.

 

[Sweet J]

recidivism

That there is one bonehead word.

Why?

Repeat Offender!!!



Part of me really, really, wants to think that Tim is a genius creation by some insane board member. That he wouldn't recognize a line from one of the most quoted movies of his (our) generation makes me think that this is all a put on.

 

[timschochet]

recidivism

That there is one bonehead word.

Why?

Repeat Offender!!!



Part of me really, really, wants to think that Tim is a genius creation by some insane board member. That he wouldn't recognize a line from one of the most quoted movies of his (our) generation makes me think that this is all a put on.

I had to look it up. I did like that movie. But I'm not a huge movie quote guy, sorry.

 

[joffer]

Sounds good at a high level.

 

[Zow]

It's still just a band aid trying to cover up for the fact that the government makes a crime to consume the wrong type of intoxicant.

Whehter or not I agree with you (and truthfully I go back and forth: there are certain drugs I just don't want to see legal under any circumstances) the practical matter is that the political will for decriminalizing ALL narcotics and ending the drug war is not there, and probably won't be there for some time, if ever. So we need to fix what we can. Surely some of these ideas represent a significant improvement on what's happening right now?

Absolutely.

But most convictions are in state courts where this won't apply.

 

[NCCommish]

Seems like a good start. And I don't know if I'm one of the purists or not but I have nothing against compromise. I do have a problem with compromise being do it our way, which is usually the way it has gone recently. So lets not get confused.