The First Step Act Passes

[Berzerker]

...the first step - the Senate approved it 87-12 (I'll have to find out who the 12 are and why they oppose the bill). Now it goes to the House where bipartisan support should easily pass it, and from what I've heard Trump supports it.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...criminal-justice-bill-moves-house/2356547002/

Before the vote, the Senate defeated amendments proposed by Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and John Kennedy of Louisiana that would have required the Bureau of Prisons to notify victims before a prisoner is released and tracked former offenders after they're released.

“While the bill has marginally improved from earlier versions, I’m disappointed my amendments to exclude child molesters from early release and to protect victims’ rights were not adopted,'' Cotton said in a statement. ”

Now thats strange, child molesters might benefit from a bill supposedly to 'reform' the vast injustice of the drug war? Just end the drug war.

 

[Commodore]

So what is the first step act.

From what I've read, basically it gives judges a little more leeway in sentencing non-violent offenders and not forcing them to strictly adhere to "mandatory minimums". It also will provide better funding to prison rehabilitation programs. The main aim of it seems to be to reduce prison overcrowding, take steps towards addressing unfair sentencing issues, and actually prepare offenders for a productive life outside of prison once they get out.

 

[Lexicus]

Just end the drug war.

You seem to be laboring under the delusion that the 'drug war' is some singular thing that can be turned off like a light switch. No. The 'drug war' is a metaphor for a vast array of policies that include regulations, federal rules and sentencing guidelines, laws passed by the Congress and state legislatures, practices engaged in by prosecutors, etc, etc. It's not something that can be "ended" in one fell swoop.

 

[EgonSpengler]

I think this is a useful step, as the name implies. I hope nobody rests on any laurels, though, and I'm worried that this was the compromise bill. Among other issues, I read in the paper this morning that this bill only applies to federal prisons, which house only about 10% of the people incarcerated in this country (most people are in state prisons - state and local jails actually house more people than federal prisons do). If criminal justice reform is the goal, this is like throwing some salt in a bowl and calling it a cake. But perhaps California's bail reform movement is an egg, and Florida's re-enfranchisement of ex-felons is some sugar. It's still not a cake - we don't even have any flour yet - but we're getting there.

 

[Berzerker]

You seem to be laboring under the delusion that the 'drug war' is some singular thing that can be turned off like a light switch. No. The 'drug war' is a metaphor for a vast array of policies that include regulations, federal rules and sentencing guidelines, laws passed by the Congress and state legislatures, practices engaged in by prosecutors, etc, etc. It's not something that can be "ended" in one fell swoop.

Well damn, I thought all we'd have to do is stop arresting people for drugs

I think this is a useful step, as the name implies. I hope nobody rests on any laurels, though, and I'm worried that this was the compromise bill. Among other issues, I read in the paper this morning that this bill only applies to federal prisons, which house only about 10% of the people incarcerated in this country (most people are in state prisons - state and local jails actually house more people than federal prisons do). If criminal justice reform is the goal, this is like throwing some salt in a bowl and calling it a cake. But perhaps California's bail reform movement is an egg, and Florida's re-enfranchisement of ex-felons is some sugar. It's still not a cake - we don't even have any flour yet - but we're getting there.

The Feds led the way and induced the states to follow with subsidies. If Congress stops funding incarceration within the states they'll have to follow suit.

So what is the first step act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIRST_STEP_Act

I'm a bit surprised to see Ben Sasse oppose it

 

[Ajidica]

Well damn, I thought all we'd have to do is stop arresting people for drugs

Federal policy is like an aircraft carrier - it doesn't stop on a dime.
Unless you think all government policy is this simple....

 

[Berzerker]

they've had more than a century, time to declare victory and walk away