Steven Schiff: “I offered an amendment to the Committee on Rules, which I hope they will make in order so that we can vote on it today…”

“I offered an amendment to the Committee on Rules, which I hope they will make in order so that we can vote on it today, which will strike a provision of the bill that requires States to have alternatives; that is, nonprison-type sentencing programs. Now, what is wrong with nonprison sentencing programs? The answer is: By itself, and in appropriate cases, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I do not believe that every single person who commits any kind of crime serves society best by being placed in prison. The problem is, this requirement to have alternative sentencing is in a provision that deals with violent criminals. The message that the combined section gives to the States is, 'You should let certain offenders go, let them out of prison,' or, 'Don't put them in prison,' not because they deserved it through individual rehabilitation or remorse, not because they are not a threat anymore to commit the crimes that they were committing, but specifically to create space for more serious offenders.”