Jeff Sessions

One of the things you will be required to do as a Federal judge is to impose sentences.

I think it is a constitutional responsibility that we do it in the right way.

I think we can reduce crime or reduce prison populations and make the system work better.

Empirical research generally does not support the allegation that immigrants are involved in criminal activity to a greater degree than the native population.

I have never seen a President or an Attorney General yet that did not have beliefs and a philosophy about how they think the office should be conducted.

I suggest, if you lack experience in sentencing, you scrupulously follow the guidelines, because they were established through a lot of hard work.

We are glad to have each of you here. This is a process we just have to go through, you nominees for judge.

I think the Bureau of Justice Statistics is a very important office and I think it is very important that it preserve its, I think, pretty solid reputation as being independent and objective in its work.

If we do not watch it, we are going to drift back into what courtroom you appear in.

I absolutely believe it's a critical part of our future for clean energy in the world.

What are we waiting for? How can we get more progress established here?

I think it could be put in and might not cost quite as much as if you were having to obtain the sample from the rape victim.

Based on your experience--and you have been at this for a number of years--do you think that the 20 States who now currently, I understand, test on arrest, that that is good public policy?

I am firmly of the view that we are not as a Nation investing enough money into the kind of forensic evidence-gathering capabilities that can help us reach the best way to fight crime.

I do not think that this Federal Government should be bearing the responsibility of paying for every rape kit in America.

That would be a policy error, would it not?

We need to figure out how to do this correctly.

I have supported and will continue to support additional Federal resources to accelerate and improve our State and local forensics capability.

To send a message that you can come, we have large numbers of people that come every year, but you must do so lawfully, that is a message we need to send and it is important.

I think that is correct, and to suggest that once you have gotten into the country illegally that you are now free to work and stay in the country indefinitely is not the message we need to send.

I hope you will look to expand that streamline process.

Shouldn't they at least be required to have some sort of conviction of a misdemeanor of some kind before they are sent back?

Will the numbers be up or down a year from now at the border?

I do not believe there is anything wrong with a Federal agent or State police officer criticizing a prosecutor.

Let me just say fundamentally what I think we have a problem with.