Sasse Statement on Sentencing Reduction Act

Sasse Amendments Would Prevent Early Release of Violent Criminals and Sex Traffickers

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding the current version of the First Step Act: 

"Everyone should want two things: to keep families together by reducing sentences for certain nonviolent offenders; and to keep our communities safe from violent criminals who rightly belong behind bars. How we meet these two goals matters, because many of the people in federal prison are seriously violent. The current draft fails. While this Sentencing Reduction Bill does some good things for nonviolent inmates, as written it will also release thousands of violent felons very early. That’s a grave mistake that will hurt innocent Americans. Good intentions are not enough."

Additional Background:

Senator Sasse has filed amendments to the First Step Act designed to ensure that violent and dangerous criminals are not eligible for early release.

One of Senator Sasse’s amendments would prevent prisoners from receiving time credits if they are serving time for violent crimes, sex offenses, or any of the following provisions of current law:

• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2421—sex trafficking
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2422—coercion for purposes of sex trafficking
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2423—sex trafficking minors
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2425—enticing minors into sex trafficking
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1593A—benefitting from human trafficking
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1594(a)-(c)—attempt and conspiracy for human trafficking offenses
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2261—domestic violence
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1112—manslaughter
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1113—attempted murder or manslaughter
• 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841—drug trafficking
• 21 U.S.C. Sec. 960—international drug trafficking
• 21 U.S.C. Sec. 962—recalcitrant drug smuggling
• 46 U.S.C. Sec. 70506—maritime drug trafficking
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 36—drive-by shooting involving a major drug offense
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 111(a)—assaulting a law enforcement officer
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 113(a)(2)-(6)—assault
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 114—maiming
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 249—hate crimes
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2101—riots
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2111—robbery
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2113(a) and (d)—bank robbery
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2118(a)—drug robberies
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2119(1)—carjacking
• 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2261A—stalking
   

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