Project for Opportunity and Safety

Criminal Justice Reform Legislation Receives Wide Support From Top Prosecutors And Conservative Champions

As Noted By Senator Grassley Recently, The Sentencing Reform And Corrections Act Brings Together “A Wide Range Of Members Across The Ideological Spectrum” And Receives Support From “A Broad Set Of Organizations” Including Religious, Law Enforcement, Fiscal Conservative Groups And The Civil Rights Community. “Not only do a wide range of members across the ideological spectrum support the bill, but so do a broad set of organizations. Some, like yours, are religious, including nearly every religious group in this country. There are law enforcement groups that are supportive. Fiscal conservative groups appreciate the cost savings the bill generates. There is also much-appreciated support from the civil rights community and various legal groups.” (Senator Chuck Grassley, Remarks on Criminal Justice Reform Before the Aleph Institute, 9/12/16)

• Senator Grassley: “If Other Members Are Like Me, The Calls And Letters From Iowans Are Strongly Supportive Of The Bill.” (Senator Chuck Grassley, Remarks on Criminal Justice Reform Before the Aleph Institute, 9/12/16)

Conservative Coalition Champions Legislation, Noting The Many Benefits Including Reducing Recidivism, Saving Taxpayer Dollars and Lowering Crime Rates   

Eight Conservative Organizations Including FreedomWorks, The Faith & Freedom Coalition, Americans for Tax Reform And The Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Sent A Joint Letter Urging “Republican Congressional Leaders To Pass Federal Sentencing Reform Legislation.” “Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and seven other conservative leaders, have signed onto a letter urging Republican congressional leaders to pass federal sentencing reform legislation and other measures similar to ones passed at the state level that have helped reduce recidivism and crime rates and have also helped greatly reduce taxpayer burden in states.” (CJR Coalition Letter, Letter for Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McCarthy, Majority Whip Scalise and Chair McMorris Rodgers, 9/9/16)

• The Letter Notes That “Congress Does Not Have To Look Far To Find Empirical Evidence That Criminal Justice Reform Promotes Public Safety, Greater Fairness In Sentencing And Fiscal Conservatism.” “Congress does not have to look far to find empirical evidence that criminal justice reform promotes public safety, greater fairness in sentencing and fiscal conservatism. More than 30 states, including Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas, have enacted and implemented justice reinvestment initiatives focused on rehabilitation and treatment.” (CJR Coalition Letter, Letter for Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McCarthy, Majority Whip Scalise and Chair McMorris Rodgers, 9/9/16)
• Reforms Led By More Than 30 States Have “Made Communities Safer By Successfully Reducing Recidivism…Saving Taxpayers Billions Of Dollars” And Lowering Crime Rates. “These state-led reforms have made communities safer by successfully reducing recidivism and saving taxpayers billions of dollars that had been slated for prison expansion and construction costs. Most importantly, even as prison populations declined, states saw crime rates fall.” (CJR Coalition Letter, Letter for Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McCarthy, Majority Whip Scalise and Chair McMorris Rodgers, 9/9/16)

In A Recent Op-ed, Hot Air’s Taylor Millard Notes That The CBO Found That Passing Justice Reform Could Save Almost $800 Million. “The potential savings are even more massive on a federal level where the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015 could whack hundreds of millions of dollars from the budget… ‘CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would reduce the cost of incarcerating offenders and would lead to a reduction in discretionary costs to DOJ of $338 million over the 2017-2021 period and $769 million over the 2017-2026 period, assuming future appropriation actions consistent with the projected reduction in prison population.’” (Taylor Millard, “Justice Reform Could Save Almost $800M If Congress Acts,” Hot Air, 9/11/16)

Top Prosecutors Also Sent A Letter To House And Senate Leadership Supporting The Sentencing Reform And Corrections Act

43 Former U.S. Attorneys and Assistant Attorneys Released A Letter Endorsing Reform, Saying The Bills Will “Make Some Of The Most Needed Improvements To The Front And Back Ends Of The Federal Criminal Justice System.” “In conclusion, we endorse these sentencing and corrections reform bills because they make some of the most needed improvements to the front and back ends of the federal criminal justice system. And it is important to note that substantial changes have been made to the Senate bill to effectively address concerns that the bill would result in the release of violent offenders.” (“Re: The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act,” Letter To Mr. Speaker and Leaders McConnell, Pelosi and Reid, 9/8/16)

• “We Urge Congress To Put These Bills On The Floor And Pass Sentencing And Corrections Reform Legislation Because It Is Good For Federal Law Enforcement And Public Safety.” “We urge Congress to put these bills on the floor and pass sentencing and corrections reform legislation because it is good for federal law enforcement and public safety. It will more effectively ensure that justice shall be done. Thank you for your consideration.” (“Re: the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act,” Letter To Mr. Speaker and Leaders McConnell, Pelosi and Reid, 9/8/16)