“True justice demands that criminals be held accountable and that those consequences fit the crime. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act aids law enforcement’s efforts to keep our communities safe while ensuring that punishments fairly reflect the underlying crime. I’m grateful for the support of so many prominent law enforcement leaders as we continue to advance comprehensive criminal justice reform that gives judges more discretion over sentencing for non-violent offenders, targets career and violent criminals and helps to reduce recidivism. The bill also increases penalties for crimes involving fentanyl, a dangerous drug at the center of the current opioid crisis. I welcome continued input from the law enforcement community, the administration and other stakeholders as we continue to advance these comprehensive reforms,” Grassley said.
“The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country on earth. Mandatory minimum sentences were once seen as a strong deterrent—in reality, they have too often been unfair, fiscally irresponsible and a threat to public safety. Any meaningful criminal justice reform legislation must modernize these outdated and ineffective laws that have cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. This compromise represents more than five years of work, and I’m glad to have the support of police chiefs, sheriffs, and federal and state prosecutors who understand that our current sentencing laws make us less safe,” Durbin said.
“We ask the Senate, House, and White House to work together to pass the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act in addition to any reentry legislation. The Act would shorten unnecessarily long sentences for lower-level offenders, a solution that has been shown in other parts of the country to successfully reduce crime and incarceration together.”