Prison reform bill to include sentencing, setting up post-election fight

Washington Examiner ^ | Nov. 5, 2018

[deplorableindc]

Criminal justice reform advocates say sentencing reform provisions will be included in legislation unveiled shortly after midterm elections Tuesday, triggering an intense lame-duck struggle over attaching penalty reductions to a White House-backed prison reform bill.

The First Step Act passed the House in a 360-59 vote earlier this year, but without sentencing reforms, at the behest of Republican opponents.

Reform advocates expect rapid legislative action after a pre-election pause, and believe there will be enough votes to pass the expanded legislative package.

Two people close to the process tell the Washington Examiner that a bipartisan group of senators has agreed to attach a set of sentencing reforms to the House-passed bill.

[WVNan]

Any folks driving after weed is legalized, should remember that there will be a lot more 80-90 year old brains behind the wheels of cars. Reaction limited.

[antidemoncrat]

I wonder how many of the 248 low level prisoners Obama released are now back in prison. That should tell Congress how effective releasing “low level” offenders will be.

[JimRed]

Five years should mean five years, twenty years should mean twenty, and life should mean you leave in a coffin.

[Pining_4_TX]

The idea that prisons are filled with a bunch of low-level weed smokers is absurd. Ever watch The First 48? One guy was paroled after committing not one, but 2 murders! Yep, he murdered a third. Often drug sentencing is used to put away gang bangers and other violent criminals because that is what they can get them on. It’s like Al Capone being sent to prison for tax evasion instead of all the horrible crimes he committed.

The people who will suffer the most if criminals are turned loose are minorities and the poor. Judges and politicians live in gated communities far from high crime areas. They can afford pretend compassion.