Holder seeks to avert mandatory minimum sentences for some low-level drug offenders

WaPo ^ | 8/11/1/3 | Sari Horwitz

[ColdOne]

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is set to announce Monday that low-level, nonviolent drug offenders with no ties to gangs or large-scale drug organizations will no longer be charged with offenses that impose severe mandatory sentences.

The new Justice Department policy is part of a comprehensive prison reform package that Holder will reveal in a speech to the American Bar Association in San Francisco, according to senior department officials. He is also expected to introduce a policy to reduce sentences for elderly, nonviolent inmates and find alternatives to prison for nonviolent criminals.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

My view is that if you can do it without putting public safety at risk, it's better to avoid putting non-violent early offenders into a prison environment that supports recruitment by Islamists, militants, and hardened criminals. At least they will have some shot at leading a normal productive life. Irrespective of Holder's motivations, whatever they are.

[GatorGirl]

Regardless of your views on the drug issue this is another example of the Obama Administration thumbing their nose at the law.

Instead of changing the law they just disregard it.

[lynn4303]

Doesn’t this require some sort of process concerning the passing of laws, which would mean it is not a function of the executive branch. Just thinking constitutionally

[Sacajaweau]

druggies, fags, lesbos, abortions....all for the children

[wardaddy]

I don’t think Holder can just end run the 1987 Congressional Sentencing Guidelines

But I do agree ...oddly enough....that first time offense should have more weight as a factor...right now it counts for nothing but prior history can be an enhancement like role in the offense etc

Just like crack was once 100 times the severity weight of powdered cocaine

and so forth

[fwdude]

Burglars are “non-violent.” So are many drug dealers, embezzlers, and other big-ticket thieves.

Mere violence does not a serious crime make.

Lessen or soften the sentence for these crimes, and we’ll get more of them.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

But Eric will still see to it that this guy does life for having the audacity to defend himself........

[Vaduz]

Felon helping felons it’s the democrat party way.

[sport]

If you read the earlier threads on the George Zimmerman story, you will find that Holder had a large mob of members here cheering him on. They too, wanted George hung for defending his life when attacked by a thug with the intentions to take it.

[lavaroise]

Holder n zero like drugs and kiddi porn and all manners of addictions and tyrannies, makes sense.

[traditional1]

Might as well let all of 'em out, since they're already are Criminals running all over Washington D.C., in the White Hut, Congress, DOJ, and all the other agencies.

They just aren't Prosecuting them...........

[bkaycee]

We live in a post constitution era now.

The Oath of office is now just a bunch of rote words one has to say at some ceromony to start wielding power.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I agree that the executive should not be changing laws, and that this does seem like another example of this administration thumbing its nose at any law that doesn’t fit their agenda. I guess I was supporting some aspects of the concept, not the means of achieving it.

[Ciexyz]

In many cases, these ‘unjust’ sentences for first-time drug offenses are the only legal way to put a lawbreaker away. When the law can’t prove the other offenses, they use this to get a bad apple off the streets for a time.

[JRandomFreeper]

You can get more time for crack cocaine than for having a nuke in your trunk.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

When the law can’t prove the other offenses, they use this to get a bad apple off the streets for a time.

Which makes a mockery of the laws.

/johnny

[MeshugeMikey]

The Grand WIaard of ObamaWOrld....pronounicing his Blessing on Dope Use!

[MeshugeMikey]

Amen and Amen!!

[pfflier]

More social engineering by decree.

While I have my own personal opinion that some are put away way too long for the offense, nonetheless it is the law as written.

The obama administration continues to make up the rules they want. This is not out of compassion, it is a campaign stunt for the dims in 2016 to buy the youth vote. Legalize pot and recreational drugs by defacto ignoring the law.