WASHINGTON (AP) – A bipartisan group of senators unveiled legislation on Thursday that would overhaul the nation’s criminal justice system, allowing some nonviolent drug offenders to get reduced prison sentences and giving judges greater discretion in sentencing.
“This historic reform bill addresses legitimate over-incarceration concerns while targeting violent criminals and masterminds in the drug trade,” Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.
In the deal struck between some of the Senate’s most conservative and liberal members, judges would have the discretion to give sentences below the mandatory minimum for nonviolent drug offenders. Some current inmates could get their sentences reduced by as much as 25 percent by taking part in rehabilitation programs, if they are deemed a low risk to offend again.
The bill would eliminate mandatory life sentences for three-time, nonviolent offenders.
Violent offenders, sex offenders and inmates convicted of terrorism charges would be excluded. Members of organized crime syndicates and major fraud offenders would also be excluded.