Attorney General Holder Just Took a Big Step To Help Prisoners of America’s War on Drugs

The Attorney General is urging the U.S. Sentencing Commission to let some people serving excessive sentences for nonviolent drug crimes get out of prison early. Attorney General Eric Holder supported an initiative yesterday that would let tens of thousands of incarcerated nonviolent drug users petition for shorter prison terms, but federal defenders and advocacy groups noted that the proposed strategy is not nearly as sweeping as those they and judges have recommended. In April, the U.S. Sentencing Commission approved a proposal to lower the guidelines for federal drug offenses two levels for defendants sentenced after Nov. 1, 2014. It estimated that the move would reduce average sentences by 23 months. The commission will vote next month on whether to let that amendment apply retroactively. During […] Read More