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Washington–
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
joined
a
bipartisan
group
of
senators
today
to
reintroduce
the
Sentencing
Reform
and
Corrections
Act
of
2017,
which
would
recalibrate
prison
sentences
for
nonviolent
drug
offenders,
target
violent
and
career
criminals
and
save
taxpayer
dollars.
The
legislation
permits
more
judicial
discretion
at
sentencing
for
offenders
with
minimal
criminal
histories
and
helps
inmates
successfully
reenter
society,
while
tightening
penalties
for
violent
criminals
and
preserving
key
prosecutorial
tools
for
law
enforcement.
It
was
introduced
by
Senate
Judiciary
Committee
Chairman
Chuck
Grassley
(R-IA),
and
joined
by
Scott,
Senate
Democratic
Whip
Dick
Durbin
(D-IL),
Senators
Mike
Lee
(R-UT),
Sheldon
Whitehouse
(D-RI),
Lindsey
Graham
(R-SC),
Patrick
Leahy
(D-VT),
Jeff
Flake
(R-AZ),
Cory
Booker
(D-NJ),
Dianne
Feinstein
(D-CA)
and
Roy
Blunt
(R-MO).
“We
can
both
keep
violent
offenders
off
the
streets
and
ensure
that
non-violent
offenders
are
serving
time
that
better
matches
their
offense.
I
look
forward
to
working
with
this
bipartisan
group
of
Senators
to
help
reduce
recidivism,
keep
violent
offenders
off
the
street,
and
ensure
our
criminal
justice
system
is
both
fair
and
tough,”
Scott
said.
“Our
justice
system
demands
consequences
for
those
who
choose
to
run
afoul
of
the
law,
and
law
enforcement
works
hard
to
keep
our
communities
safe.
This
bipartisan
compromise
ensures
that
these
consequences
fit
their
crimes
by
targeting
violent
and
career
criminals
who
prey
on
the
innocent
while
giving
nonviolent
offenders
with
minimal
criminal
histories
a
better
chance
to
become
productive
members
of
society.
This
bill
strikes
the
right
balance
of
improving
public
safety
and
ensuring
fairness
in
the
criminal
justice
system.
It
is
the
product
of
much
thoughtful
deliberation,
and
we
will
continue
to
welcome
input
from
stakeholders
as
we
move
forward,”
Grassley
said.
The
Sentencing
Reform
and
Corrections
Act
of
2017
narrows
the
scope
of
mandatory
minimum
prison
sentences
to
focus
on
the
most
serious
drug
offenders
and
violent
criminals,
while
broadening
and
establishing
new
outlets
for
individuals
with
minimal
non-violent
criminal
histories
that
may
trigger
mandatory
minimum
sentences
under
current
law.
The
bill
also
reduces
certain
mandatory
minimums
and
provides
judges
with
greater
discretion
when
determining
appropriate
sentences.
Under
the
bill,
courts
must
first
review
eligible
inmates’
individual
cases,
including
criminal
histories
and
conduct
while
incarcerated,
before
determining
whether
a
sentence
reduction
is
appropriate.
Importantly,
the
bill
preserves
cooperation
incentives
to
aid
law
enforcement
in
tracking
down
kingpins
and
stiffens
penalties
for
individuals
convicted
of
serious
violent
felonies.
In
addition,
the
bill
establishes
recidivism
reduction
programs
to
help
prepare
low-risk
inmates
to
successfully
re-enter
society.
Qualifying
inmates
may
receive
reductions
to
their
sentences
through
time
credits
upon
successful
completion
of
recidivism
reduction
programming.
The
bill
also
makes
retroactive
the
Fair
Sentencing
Act
and
certain
statutory
reforms
that
address
inequities
in
drug
sentences.
Courts
must
first
review
each
eligible
inmate’s
case
on
an
individualized
basis,
including
criminal
history
and
conduct
while
incarcerated,
before
determining
whether
a
sentence
reduction
is
appropriate.
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