Project for Opportunity and Safety

New Criminal Justice Reform Bill Gains Renewed Momentum & Conservative Support

At a press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday, a bipartisan group of Senators led by Mike Lee and John Cornyn on the Republican side, held a press conference to announce new revisions to a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that will keep violent criminals behind bars, while addressing the burgeoning federal prison population and protecting taxpayer dollars.  The revised bill is now cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 37 Senators and supported by a broad and diverse array of organizations and interests, including FreedomWorks.  In case you missed it, below are key excerpts:

Four GOP Senators Join Growing List Of Supporters For Criminal Justice Reform

Senators Kirk, Sullivan, Cochran and Daines Announce Support For Revised Legislation. “[T]o address opponents’ concerns about violent criminals, the new version would drop language that could have allowed reduced sentences for criminals who had possessed a firearm…. the sponsors also announced that they had picked up support from four additional GOP senators: Mark Kirk of Illinois, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Steve Daines of Montana.” (Fox News, “Senators Unveil Criminal Justice Reform Compromise, Try To Revive Bill,” 4/28/2016)

• Seventeen GOP Senators Have Come Out In Support Of The Legislation. “Montana Sen. Steve Daines has decided to endorse the revised criminal justice reform legislation pending in the Senate, becoming the 17th GOP senator to support the bill…They are led on the Republican side by Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, and Tea Party Sen. Mike Lee.” (Washington Examiner, “Daines Becomes 17th GOP Senator To Back Sentencing Bill,” 4/28/2016)  

• Senator Daines: “’Our criminal justice system needs to focus on targeting career criminals and repeat offenders while ensuring our communities are safe for Montana families.” (Sen. Steve Daines Release, “Daines Joins Effort to Reform Criminal Justice System,” 4/28/2016)

Nation’s Prosecutors Now Endorsing New Reform Legislation

The National District Attorneys Association Joins “More Than 400 Groups And Organizations Across The Political Spectrum” Supporting The Revised Legislation. “‘In a recent letter of support from the National District Attorneys Association, the largest association of prosecutors in the country, the organization’s president wrote, ‘As a result of months of changes and good faith negotiations, our organization feels the latest version of the bill strikes the appropriate balance between targeting the highest level drug traffickers plaguing our communities, while simultaneously decreasing crime rates and addressing the burgeoning prison population.’ The bill enjoys support from coalitions representing more than 400 groups and organizations across the political spectrum.”  (Sen. Mike Lee Release, “Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act Expands Bipartisan Support,” 4/28/2016)

• William Fitzpatrick, President Of NDAA: “Our Organization Feels The Latest Version Of The Bill Strikes The Appropriate Balance Between Targeting The Highest Level Drug Traffickers Plaguing Our Communities, While Simultaneously Decreasing Crime Rates And Addressing The Burgeoning Prison Population.” “On behalf of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), the largest prosecutor organization representing 2500 elected and appointed District Attorneys across the United States as well as 30,000 assistant district attorneys, I write in support of S. 2123, the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. As a result of months of changes and good faith negotiations, our organization feels the latest version of the bill strikes the appropriate balance between targeting the highest level drug traffickers plaguing our communities, while simultaneously decreasing crime rates and addressing the burgeoning prison population.” (William Fitzpatrick, NDAA Support Letter To Sen. McConnell and Reid, 4/26/16)

• NDAA Says “The Revised Version ‘Filters Out The Truly Dangerous Individuals’ So They Don’t Benefit From The Reduced Mandatory Minimum Sentences”. “The bill also now says that other reduced mandatory minimum sentences won’t apply retroactively for anyone who has been convicted of any serious violent felony. And it adds enhanced mandatory sentences for crimes involving Fentanyl, an opioid drug. The influential district attorneys group wrote to Senate leaders earlier this week, saying the revised version ‘filters out the truly dangerous individuals’ so they don’t benefit from the reduced mandatory minimum sentences.” (Politico, “Compromise Struck On Criminal Justice Reform,” 4/28/2016)

Conservative Senators & Outside Groups Leading the Charge for Reform

“Conservatives Like Sens. Mike Lee, Tim Scott And Rand Paul” Support The Legislation Because The Legislative Changes “Promote Public Safety.”  “’The changes unveiled Thursday are reasonable and will promote public safety, which is why conservatives like Sens. Mike Lee, Tim Scott and Rand Paul support this bill,’ said Jason Pye, FreedomWorks’ communications director. ‘In fact, many of the sentencing reforms in this bill … are similar to those found in the Smarter Sentencing Act, of which Perdue is a co-sponsor.’” (Politico, “Compromise Struck On Criminal Justice Reform,” 4/28/2016)

• “The Aim Of The Legislation Is To Reduce Overcrowding In The Nation’s Prisons, Save Taxpayer Dollars And Give Some Nonviolent Offenders A Second Chance While Keeping The Most Dangerous Criminals In Prison.” “The aim of the legislation is to reduce overcrowding in the nation’s prisons, save taxpayer dollars and give some nonviolent offenders a second chance while keeping the most dangerous criminals in prison. Disparate voices — from Obama and the American Civil Liberties Union to the conservative Koch Industries — have said the system is broken after years of ‘tough-on-crime’ laws and have backed the Senate bill. In 1980, the federal prison population was less than 25,000. Today, it is more than 200,000.” (Fox News, “Senators Unveil Criminal Justice Reform Compromise, Try To Revive Bill,” 4/28/2016)

• “Mark Holden, general counsel and senior vice president of Koch Industries, immediately issued a statement of support for the revised bill. ‘We believe these reforms will help remove barriers to opportunity for the least advantaged, keep our communities safer and allow our brave law enforcement officers to focus on serious, violent offenders, which will improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they protect and serve,’ Holden said.” (Associated Press, “Senators try to revive criminal justice overhaul,” 4/28/2016)

Federal Effort Follows New Reform Laws in Conservative States

Conservative States Like Texas, Georgia And North Carolina Have Passed “More Far-Reaching Changes,” Demonstrating “That Lighter Sentences For Many Nonviolent Criminals Would Not Jeopardize Public Safety.” “More far-reaching changes in states such as Texas, Georgia and North Carolina have demonstrated that lighter sentences for many nonviolent criminals would not jeopardize public safety, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, pointed out at the news conference.” (National Public Radio, “One Last Push In Congress To Change Punishment For Drug Crimes This Year,” 4/28/2016)