Justice Dept. Seeks to Curtail Stiff Drug Sentences

[steve2470]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/us/justice-dept-seeks-to-curtail-stiff-drug-sentences.html?google_editors_picks=true&_r=0

WASHINGTON — In a major shift in criminal justice policy, the Obama administration will move on Monday to ease overcrowding in federal prisons by ordering prosecutors to omit listing quantities of illegal substances in indictments for low-level drug cases, sidestepping federal laws that impose strict mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related offenses.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., in a speech at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting in San Francisco on Monday, is expected to announce the new policy as one of several steps intended to curb soaring taxpayer spending on prisons and help correct what he regards as unfairness in the justice system, according to his prepared remarks.

Saying that “too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long and for no good law enforcement reason,” Mr. Holder is planning to justify his policy push in both moral and economic terms.

“Although incarceration has a role to play in our justice system, widespread incarceration at the federal, state and local levels is both ineffective and unsustainable,” Mr. Holder’s speech says. “It imposes a significant economic burden — totaling $80 billion in 2010 alone — and it comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate.”

[JimDandy]

1. That's welcome news

Wonder if they're doing this because they might be hit with a lawsuit regarding overcrowded prisons like California was? CA lost the lawsuit against them and is now being forced to reduce their prison population.

[steve2470]

2. I thought it was very welcome too, hopefully the start of a trend on MMJ nt

[Logical]

3. Great news! Wow, I hope it happens! n-t

[defacto7]

4. Don't hold your breath.

[blackspade]

5. Credit where credit is due.......

This is an excellent sea change from this administration on drug policy.

Bravo!

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Good. Bout time.

Actually, it's about time to end the stupid fucking drug war, entirely.

Does this mean they'll finally stop throwing grannies in jail for growing medical marijuana, too? One hopes.

This is a positive step.

[Scurrilous]

7. K & R