Senator Leahy Says “No” to Mandatory Minimums, But Will Congress Listen?

[cali]

There are 2.3 million people currently behind bars in America today. In the federal system, there are currently more than 218,000 people in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and this number is estimated to increase to over 229,000 by the end of 2013. Undoubtedly, the need to maintain public safety and ensure accountability is non-negotiable.

However, America’s position as the world’s largest jailer suggests that in some cases, incarceration has become the default outcome, rather than the best or the most appropriate one for the crime. While the justice system has been tasked with the awesome responsibility of keeping us safe, which requires many serious offenders to be held in our prisons and jails, it also has a responsibility to deliver fair and proportional sentences.

<snip>

Senator Leahy addressed this issue head on, calling for an examination of our “high rate of imprisonment” as well as the hefty price tag that comes with it. As a former prosecutor and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy is well acquainted with our justice system, and said of current sentencing policies that,

“Our reliance at the state and federal level on mandatory minimums has been a great mistake. I’m not convinced it has lowered crime. I knew that we have imprisoned people who should not be there, and we have wasted money better spent on other things.”


<snip>

http://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/senator-leahy-says-no-mandatory-minimums-will-congress-listen

[Smilo]

1. And now with private prisons

there will be many more incarcerations just for the sake of money.

America needs to look at how other countries are tackling crime and take a long hard look at its prison system - but then America is America and those that should do that will only say "we are America we are number 1".