In a move apparently unprecedented in U.S. history, President Obama visited yesterday a federal prison in Oklahoma and once more joined the bipartisan demands for reform of federal criminal justice particularly the horrific, stupid and wasteful mandatory sentences in drug cases. The New York Times reports, Obama, In Oklahoma, Takes Reform Message to Prison Cell Block.
It seems that some progress is possible given the emerging bipartisan Congressional consensus, see John Boehner Says Many People In Prison "Really Don't Need to Be There," Bipartisan SAFE Justice Act with array of federal sentencing reforms introduced by House leaders; and In praise of GOP Rep. Sensenbrenner making the moral case for sentencing reform.
Professor Doug Berman's invaluable blog Sentencing Law & Policy is a continuing source on these issues.
Comments