U.S Attorney General, Eric Holder's surprised many last week when he announced that The Justice Department will no longer pursue mandatory minimum sentences for certain low-level, nonviolent drug offenders.
There are now 25,000 drug convictions in federal court each year, 45% are for these low-level nonviolent offenses. Federal prisons are operating at 40% above capacity holding more than 219,000 inmates.
These changes are welcome for those who’ve been working to overhaul the criminal justice system.
“By criminalizing low-level drugs, you’re disrupting communities and families and creating a class of citizen….that don’t have the same rights of others. You have this...
