Sessions Tells Prosecutors To Seek 'Most Serious' Charges for low level drug crimes

[Whateverist]

in a memo to staff, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered federal prosecutors to "charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense" — a move that marks a significant reversal of Obama-era policies on low-level drug crimes.

The two-page memo, which was publicly released Friday, lays out a policy of strict enforcement that rolls back the comparatively lenient stance established by one of his predecessors under President Obama, Eric Holder.

"This policy affirms our responsibility to enforce the law, is moral and just, and produces consistency. This policy fully utilizes the tools Congress has given us," Sessions told thousands of assistant U.S. attorneys in the memo. "By definition, the most serious offenses are those that carry the most substantial guidelines sentence, including mandatory minimum sentences."

Holder had asked prosecutors to avoid slapping nonviolent drug offenders with crimes that carried mandatory minimum sentences — which, as NPR's Tamara Keith explains, "give judges and prosecutors little discretion over the length of a prison term if a suspect is convicted." Holder's recommendation had been aimed partly at helping reduce burgeoning prison populations in the U.S.

Now, if prosecutors wish to pursue lesser charges for these low-level crimes, they will need to obtain approval for the exception from a U.S. attorney, assistant attorney general or another supervisor.

Tamara notes this marks a return to the "tough-on-crime philosophy of the 1990s."

"Our responsibility is to fulfill our role in a way that accords with the law, advances public safety, and promotes respect for our legal system," Sessions writes. "It is of the utmost importance to enforce the law fairly and consistently."

And Sessions made clear he means this shift in policy to be immediate.

"Any inconsistent previous policy of the Department of Justice relating to these matters is rescinded, effective today."

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2...t=20170512

Gotta keep those private prisons filled.

The more poor and working class people you can turn into felons, the narrower the voting gap becomes between the one percenters & their goons versus the proletariat.

---

When are we going to get a mandatory minimum for sexual assault?

But grabbing a woman's pussy is a gawd given right.  

[Aroura]

Punishing drug users is a classic case of victim blaming, so of course Sessions is all for it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

in a memo to staff, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered federal prosecutors to "charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense" — a move that marks a significant reversal of Obama-era policies on low-level drug crimes.

The two-page memo, which was publicly released Friday, lays out a policy of strict enforcement that rolls back the comparatively lenient stance established by one of his predecessors under President Obama, Eric Holder.

"This policy affirms our responsibility to enforce the law, is moral and just, and produces consistency. This policy fully utilizes the tools Congress has given us," Sessions told thousands of assistant U.S. attorneys in the memo. "By definition, the most serious offenses are those that carry the most substantial guidelines sentence, including mandatory minimum sentences."

Holder had asked prosecutors to avoid slapping nonviolent drug offenders with crimes that carried mandatory minimum sentences — which, as NPR's Tamara Keith explains, "give judges and prosecutors little discretion over the length of a prison term if a suspect is convicted." Holder's recommendation had been aimed partly at helping reduce burgeoning prison populations in the U.S.

Now, if prosecutors wish to pursue lesser charges for these low-level crimes, they will need to obtain approval for the exception from a U.S. attorney, assistant attorney general or another supervisor.

Tamara notes this marks a return to the "tough-on-crime philosophy of the 1990s."

"Our responsibility is to fulfill our role in a way that accords with the law, advances public safety, and promotes respect for our legal system," Sessions writes. "It is of the utmost importance to enforce the law fairly and consistently."

And Sessions made clear he means this shift in policy to be immediate.

"Any inconsistent previous policy of the Department of Justice relating to these matters is rescinded, effective today."

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2...t=20170512

Gotta keep those private prisons filled.

What is this bullshit?

[Fireball]

I'm for legalizing most drugs.  As long as they are regulated, and people get their warnings.  Let people do whatever the fuck they want to themselves as long as they aren't breaking other laws.

I have friends in law enforcement whole see that the war on drugs has failed. I'm personally for legalizing drugs. The setup would on the lines of liquor. Controlled and taxed. I have no use for any of the recreational stuff, beyond coffee, beer and the occasional snort of liquor. But it would be a good thing for the quality to be controlled. One immediate outfall of control on the contents of one's heroin would be knowing that this dose probably won't be lethal due to adulterants.

[tjakey]

Does that mean the next right wing talking head, or the next Republican Senator or Congressman caught buying illegal drugs (or sending their house keeper out to buy them) is going to serve a long jail sentence in a small cell packed with 5 other convicts? Because, if it does, I might have less of a problem with it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The reason for this is clear, "easy numbers", run up a score of "felons" incarcerated to take people's mind of the Nuclear Clock that Le Grande Motor Mouth is trying to get to strike midnight.

[Minimalist]

When are we going to get a mandatory minimum for sexual assault?

When are he and his fucking boss going to be locked up for obstruction of justice?

[Brian37]

When are we going to get a mandatory minimum for sexual assault?

When are he and his fucking boss going to be locked up for obstruction of justice?

Unless Trump has the law enforcement catch him in bed with a dead hooker I doubt he will do any time, Nixon didn't but should have. I'll be happy if he simply steps down or gets impeached and gets forced out of office.

[Minimalist]

The republicunt answer to everything is "Lock 'em up."

They should start at the top.

[vorlon13]

Sessions policy is in accord with laws passed by congress.

Efficient/effective redress would be via petitioning of ones representatives and senators, and/or electing to congress folks inclined to support the changes desired.


Disheartening so much invective heaped on Sessions when YET AGAIN it is FUCKING CONGRESS THAT IS FUCKING UP SOMETHING AND WE ARE NOT HOLDING THEIR FUCKING FEET TO THE FIRE.