Posted on 05/12/2017 6:16:19 AM PDT by Kaslin
Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo directing federal prosecutors to pursue the toughest charges against most criminals.
The memo to the nation’s 94 U.S. attorneys says they should “charge and pursue the most serious and readily provable offense.”
It also triggers mandatory minimum sentences, which will increase prosecutions and prison populations.
The tough-on-crime approach is a reversal of the “Smart on Crime” drug sentencing policy under former President Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder, which sought to avoid incarcerating people who committed low level non-violent crimes.
The Obama administration used the “Smart on Crime” policy to combat what they believed was a high number of prosecutions of non-violent drug offenders. DOJ officials call it a “false narrative” and say unless a gun is involved, most of those cases aren’t charged period.
Officials say Holder’s “Smart on Crime” policy “convoluted the process,” and left prosecutors applying the law unevenly, which they said “is not Justice.”
Critics of the shift say it will revive the worst aspects of the drug war. But Sessions has said a spike in violence in some big cities shows the need for a return to tougher tactics.
Sessions says in the memo that "charging and sentencing recommendations are crucial responsibilities for any federal prosecutor."
Pursuing the most serious punishment possible for a crime is a policy that "affirms our responsibility to enforce the law, and is moral and just," he added.
Personally, I haven’t done weed in 35-40 years, only once did I even do coke-—at the insistence of my band members to ‘get a record deal’ with an A&R man.
So I have great sympathy for potheads who just use it to relax, and especially for medical marijuana. I know people in great pain who need this. On the other hand, yes, you can get addicted to pot. I’ve seen two people like this in my life-—couldn’t walk across a street without a joint, liked to constantly roll and sniff it.
Ordinarily, I’d think our resources can be better used, but if I’m right and this is really a stealth deportation of Dreamers, I’m all for it. We can relax the laws when the country is safe.
I’ll concede that point. ;)
This is a bit extreme and might do a bit of harm but he is correct that former Attorney Holder had absolutely no idea what he was doing.
Apparently under Former President-elect Obama,it was having a gun that determined being charged....an idiotic provision.
>
Nobody ever got their life ruined by Federal marijuana laws for “a few loose joints”. I think a joint rarely contains more than 3 grams of weed. 12 joints is intent to distribute, in that case. I’m guessing, are you a...Libertarian?
>
Nobody?? Proof? Let’s define ‘life ruined’, first, I guess.
Sure love to focus on the particulars (regardless that there is NO Constitutional authority vis a vis ‘Drug War’, nor ‘gun control’, nor ‘welfare’, nor...) instead of the big picture (which WVMnteer correctly pointed out). Are you, maybe, a ....Statist? Maybe just approve of Fascism when it’s the (R) boot heel?
Least those of us of the (L) bent can see, outside the failure to uphold and follow the Constitution, the WOD, like poverty, can ONLY be ‘won’ when the populace are slaves to the State\govt.
“Personally, I haven’t done weed in 35-40 years”
Let’s hope you are taking good care of yourself so you won’t need it when you are older.
Trump. WWGWD?
The left is going to cry over this one. For decades the average leftist has favored criminals over victims. It’s about time we start cracking down on the criminals for a change, instead of making excuses for them and attacking the cops instead.
I’m probably the healthiest 66 year old ever. I’ve been in a hospital really only one time for bone chips in my knee from basketball/aerobics. I’m on NO prescription drugs of any kind. My heart is pretty much perfect.
Libs looking to get rid of me are barking up the wrong tree.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.