NACDL News: Sentencing Reform Legislation Advances in Both House and Senate

The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 2123) is moving rapidly in the Senate with its advancement in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 22, 2015, by a 15-5 vote. This bipartisan legislation would reduce certain mandatory minimum sentences, expand opportunities to avoid mandatory minimums, and make the 2010 crack sentencing reductions retroactive, while at the same time create two new mandatory minimum sentences and expand the application of others. The bill also includes provisions relating to re-entry, compassionate release, and juvenile justice. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on October 19th where it heard testimony from nine witnesses, including Deputy Attorney General Yates and representatives from the NAACP, Prison Fellowship Ministries, The Sentencing Project, the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, the Manhattan Institute, and a formally incarcerated individual. The legislation now moves to the Senate floor. Several Judiciary Committee leaders and members introduced a narrower House version (H.R. 3713) on Oct. 8, and it was passed by the House Judiciary Committee by voice vote on Nov. 18.