On the recordSeptember 17, 2013
the Attorney General has recently announced that the Department of Justice will not charge certain drug offenders in a way that would trigger the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences. Before outlining some of the concerns that I have with the policy and the statement that the Attorney General issued on the subject, I do want to note that I agree with a number of the points that he made. These are the specific points with which I am in agreement with the Attorney General: The Department will coordinate with State, local, and tribal law enforcement to maximize the operation of Federal resources in criminal prosecutions. The development of comprehensive anti-violence strategies by the U.S. attorneys with input from State and local authorities. The designation by the U.S. attorneys' offices of coordinators for prevention and reentry. Direct Federal assistance to hot spots of violence and the new use of COPS grants for school resource officers. Creation of a new task force for violence experienced by Indian children. Providing support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence. Compassionate release of nonviolent inmates who are elderly and have served a long part of their sentences is wise. And I favor addressing unwarranted racial disparities in sentencing. That is quite a bit of agreement. I am pleased that we share some common ground.…





