U.S. AG Revive Drug Penalties - Attorney General Sessions Planning To Revive Harsh Penalties For Low Level Drug Offenses
(Common Dreams) Attorney General Jeff Sessions is considering scrapping Obama-era rules that banned harsh punishments for low-level drug crimes and could direct prosecutors to resume charging severe penalties, according to U.S. officials who spoke to the Washington Post on Tuesday.
Oct 13, 20225 Shares623 Views
(Common Dreams) Attorney General Jeff Sessions is considering scrapping Obama-era rules that banned harsh punishments for low-level drug crimes and could direct prosecutors to resume charging severe penalties, according to U.S. officials who spoke tothe Washington Poston Tuesday.
The change would overturn a 2013 memoby former Attorney General Eric Holder that instructed prosecutors to avoid issuing charges that would trigger mandatory minimum sentences for low-level defendants.
If the new instructions are implemented, it will mark another major pivot by the Trump administration away from recent federal effortsto address mass incarceration, which is now widely seen as ineffective and harmful. It’s also less than surprising.
Prior to Sessions’ confirmation in February, the Brennan Center for Justice released two analyses warningthat the former Alabama senator could upend all the progress the Justice Department has made in addressing everything from prison reform to voting rights.
“„“Sessions appears to subscribe to outdated ideas about criminal justice policy that conservatives, progressives, and law enforcement leaders agree do not help reduce crime.”- Ames C. Grawert, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Justice Program
“„“Jeff Sessions seems determined to disprove a decade of ‘GOP really the leaders on criminal justice reform’ pieces.”- prominent journalist, Wesley Lower
Indeed, while serving as district attorney from 1981-1993, 40 percent of Sessions’ convictions were for drug charges, double the rate of other state prosecutors.
He is also known to be against marijuana legalization, an issue that has gained public support in recent years, and has a history of favoring “tough on crime” policies, including blocking limits on the use of juvenile solitary confinement.
Moreover, many of his opponents noted before his confirmation that Sessions was rejected for a federal judgeship in 1986 on the grounds that he was “too racist.”
That detail was not lost on observers who responded to Tuesday’s news. Holder’s former spokesperson Matthew Miller added to the Postthat the Trump administration “couldn’t be making it more clear who it cares about and who it doesn’t.”
“„“If you are addicted to opiates, you’ll get White House attention and increased treatment options. If you get picked up with crack in your pocket, you’ll get jail time and a mandatory minimum.”- Matthew Miller
People Also Ask
What Are The Drug Policies In The United States?
Federal law says that it is illegal to have, use, or sell illegal drugs. If you are caught with drugs, you will face harsh punishments, and in many cases, you will have to go to prison. When illegal drug use leads to death or serious bodily harm, the punishments get much harsher.
What Is The Penalty For Drug Possession In USA?
Under federal law, simple possession is a misdemeanor that can lead to a year or less in prison for a first offense. However, a second or third offense could lead to felony charges and more years in prison. Also, people in the U.S. who are caught with drugs could be fined a lot.
Can I Be Charged With Possession If I Had Nothing On Me?
If the police search you legally and find drugs on you, like in your coat pocket, they can charge you with illegal possession of a controlled substance. But even if you don't have any drugs on you, you could still be charged with a crime if you "constructively" had them.
Jump to
Latest Articles
Popular Articles