Attorney General attempts to limit mandatory sentences for drug crimes
08-13-2013, 06:17 PM
#1
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Attorney General attempts to limit mandatory sentences for drug crimes
Eric Holder and the Obama Administration are attempting to bypass Federal Mandatory Sentences for minor drug crimes, which have been historically putting even first-time offenders away for very long periods of time for extremely minor drug possession offenses. From the article:
This has been happening at the State level lately as well in some cases. There are parts of Texas for instance where State mandatory sentences have been forgone for the same class of offenders. Given that the Federal operation is much larger in scope, and has influence on the direction of the policies of the various States, this could be the start a very good trend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/us...nces.html?_r=0
It's not the end of this horrible drug war, but IMO it's certainly a step in the right direction, and it greatly lifts the Obama administration in my eyes. What do you think about it HA?
Although incarceration has a role to play in our justice system, widespread incarceration at the federal, state and local levels is both ineffective and unsustainable, ... It imposes a significant economic burden totaling $80 billion in 2010 alone and it comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate.
This has been happening at the State level lately as well in some cases. There are parts of Texas for instance where State mandatory sentences have been forgone for the same class of offenders. Given that the Federal operation is much larger in scope, and has influence on the direction of the policies of the various States, this could be the start a very good trend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/us...nces.html?_r=0
It's not the end of this horrible drug war, but IMO it's certainly a step in the right direction, and it greatly lifts the Obama administration in my eyes. What do you think about it HA?
08-13-2013, 07:57 PM
#2
Super Moderator
I think if they don't like the law the President who has a majority in the Senate and close in the House should change the law. If it is a nation where laws are ignored, then the matter of "do we live under anarchy" is only a matter of scale, and highly debatable.
And yes, the question is currently debatable due to (if nothing else) the state of our national immigration law enforcement.
And yes, the question is currently debatable due to (if nothing else) the state of our national immigration law enforcement.
08-13-2013, 11:02 PM
#3
Super Moderator
No laws are being ignored. It's called "prosecutorial discretion". Prosecutors aren't required to charge you with a particular crime.
08-14-2013, 05:49 PM
#4
Super Moderator
Right. It's not anarchy at all, we have laws! You know the people tortured to death in the Soviet gulag had a constitution forbidding torture? Laws mean dick if nobody enforces them.
And if AZ tries to make laws for themselves to mirror the federal laws, they are forbidden, because we have laws. Nevermind we refuse to enforce them. This is only a matter of degree removed from one guy getting away with murder at the police department fundraiser picnic, and another guy getting 3 months for jaywalking across the street to check his mail.
And if AZ tries to make laws for themselves to mirror the federal laws, they are forbidden, because we have laws. Nevermind we refuse to enforce them. This is only a matter of degree removed from one guy getting away with murder at the police department fundraiser picnic, and another guy getting 3 months for jaywalking across the street to check his mail.
08-15-2013, 08:17 AM
#5
Super Moderator
If cops arrested everyone for every crime committed, and prosecutors filed the top charge for every arrest, EVERYONE would be in prison, including you and me. Everyone commits at least one felony every week.
08-15-2013, 08:53 PM
#6
Super Moderator
...and some of them are even unintentional! (rimshot)
This doesn't mean we shouldn't enforce laws, it means we should CHANGE them.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't enforce laws, it means we should CHANGE them.