ACLU Hopes Candidates Won’t Make Straw Man of Sensible Sentencing Reforms (1/7/2008)
Eliminating mandatory minimums is a step to fixing unjust laws;
lawmakers should not fear reforms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org
Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative
Office, a non-partisan organization, believes Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) was
mistaken when she called ending mandatory minimum sentences a controversial
position. The organization urges all candidates, from all parties, to oppose
mandatory minimum sentencing and support legislation to close the sentencing
disparities between crack and powder cocaine.
The policy of mandatory minimum sentencing has led to thousands of people
serving longer jail sentences and has contributed to the unfair sentencing
disparities between federal crack and powder cocaine offenses that
disproportionately affect people of color.
The following can be attributed to ACLU Legislative Counsel Jesselyn
McCurdy:
"There is nothing controversial about allowing judges to give people the
punishment they deserve based on the crime they committed. Mandatory minimum
sentences take the authority away from judges and give it to prosecutors to
determine a person’s sentence.
"Even a predominantly conservative Supreme Court recognized in a 7-2 decision
in the Kimbrough case that judges need to have more sentencing
discretion; that does not sound like a controversial stance. We want to change
sentencing laws for one reason: to keep our justice system just. Doing the right
thing is more important than the fear of a political attack. We hope every
candidate will stand up against unfair sentencing laws."
For more information about ending mandatory minimums, visit:
http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/sentencing/31256res20070809.html
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