Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on Needed Criminal Justice Reforms

May 19, 2021 by AFP

Arlington, Va. – Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today applauded the Judiciary Committee for planning to mark up three key bills: the First Step Implementation Act, the COVID-19 Safer Detention Act, and the Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act. These bills reform the federal criminal justice system, while enhancing the safety of our communities.

AFP Senior Policy Analyst Jeremiah Mosteller issued the following statement:

“These reforms will help improve public safety, end an unjust sentencing practice, reunite individuals with their families, and ensure individuals who are medically vulnerable and have paid their debts to society can serve out their remaining sentence in home confinement. We thank the Senate Judiciary Committee for holding a hearing on these important bills that bring needed reforms to our criminal justice system, and we urge them to pass the bills swiftly without any changes so that important provisions in the First Step Act can achieve their intended impact.”

Background:

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to consider the following bills tomorrow:

First Step Implementation Act – will allow certain sentencing reforms passed in the First Step Act to be applied retroactively, provide judges with additional discretion to apply the appropriate punishment in criminal cases, and provides for the sealing and expungement of nonviolent crimes individuals committed as a minor, among other things.
COVID-19 Safer Detention Act – will require individualized determination of suitability for compassionate release or transfer to home detention. This is particularly important for persons who are especially vulnerable due to age or medical condition
Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act – will eliminate the ability for federal judges to enhance sentences for conduct which a defendant has previously been acquitted by a jury during trial.

Americans for Prosperity Urges Support for COVID-19 Safer Detention Act, 7/30/20

AFP Applauds Senators Grassley and Durbin Standing for Due Process, 9/26/19