Issue Position: Criminal Justice Reform

Issue Position

Smarter Sentencing Act (S. 1410)
Our current scheme of federal mandatory minimum sentences is irrational and wasteful. By targeting particularly egregious mandatory minimums and returning discretion to federal judges in an incremental manner, the Smarter Sentencing Act takes an important step toward reducing the financial and human cost of outdated and imprudent sentencing polices.
Modestly expands the existing federal "safety valve"
Applies Fair Sentencing Act to sentences made before its enactment
Gives judges greater sentencing flexibility in limited circumstances

Federal Prison Reform Act (S. 1783)
If we are serious about access to opportunity for all, then we have to put "rehabilitation" back into the vocabulary of the federal prison system. If inmates are violent and threats to our communities, then we have a moral responsibility to keep them locked up. If they are not violent and pose no threat, however, if they have reformed and are ready to return to their families and communities, we have just as much moral duty to get them re-integrated into our nation's networks of social and economic mobility.

Based on the successful Texas model, the bill:
Requires DOJ to develop & implement recidivism reduction programming for 100% of eligible federal prisoners within 5 years;
Requires the Attorney General to enter into partnership with non-profit and faith-based organizations to provide many of these programs;
Allows prisoners classified as low-risk to earn up to 50% of their remaining sentence in home confinement or a halfway house;
Allows medium-risk and high-risk prisoners to earn time credits at a rate of 30% and 20% while they are successfully completing recidivism programming, but does not allow them to cash in this credit until the risk assessment tool shows they are low-risk; and
Reduces the need for new federal prison construction allocation by working to cap and reduce the number of incarcerated offenders.

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