OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) today thanks Senator James Lankford and Senator Jim Inhofe for supporting a bipartisan effort to reduce crime and recidivism, make federal sentencing laws more just, and help people who deserve second chances through the FIRST STEP Act.
AFP-OK previously ran digital ads on social media platforms across the state to encourage Sen. Lankford to support the FIRST STEP Act.
AFP-OK State Director John Tidwell issued the following statement:
“We thank Senator Lankford and Senator Inhofe for supporting this bipartisan legislation to reduce recidivism by giving people who paid their debt to society the tools to become contributing members of their community when they return. Our activists are encouraged by this legislative milestone and look forward to increased public safety and fewer barriers to opportunity for those who want a second chance. The First Step Act is proof that when Washington puts partisan politics aside and comes together, significant bipartisan policy outcomes are possible.”
Background
- AFP-Oklahoma Asks Senator Lankford to Support the FIRST STEP Act
- Freedom Partners signs coalition letter opposing amendments to First Step Act
- Americans for Prosperity issues Key Vote Alert in support of the First Step Act
- The FIRST STEP Act requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to place inmates no more than 500 driving miles from home, helping spouses, parents, and children more practically visit their family members behind bars and making it easier for inmates to reintegrate into society upon release.
- Fixes a mistake in federal law to ensure that all well-behaved prisoners not serving life sentences can accrue 54 days of “good time credit” off their sentences per year, instead of the 47 per year that 178,000 inmates currently receive.
- Directs the BOP to let low-risk low-needs inmates serve home confinement for up to 6 months of the end of their sentences.
- Retroactively applies the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which reduced the crack-cocaine sentencing disparity from 100:1 to 18:1, to current inmates sentenced before 2010.
- Expands eligibility for the federal “safety valve” (18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)) to keep more low-level drug offenders from incurring mandatory minimums meant for high-level drug traffickers, creating more proportional punishments.