Rep. Davis Statement on DOJ New Policies on Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

Rep. Davis Statement on DOJ New Policies on Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

August 12, 2013

Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.'s remarks before the American Bar Association's House of Delegates included a number of new and welcome initiatives. AG Holder prefaces his remarks with the observation that ". . . we must face the reality that, as it stands, our system is in too many respects broken. The course we are on is far from sustainable. And it is our time -- and our duty -- to identify those areas we can improve in order to better advance the cause of justice for all Americans." He goes on to make two other critical points: ". . . many aspects of our criminal justice system may actually exacerbate these problems, rather than alleviate them" and ". . . it's time to ask tough questions about how we can strengthen our communities, support young people, and address the fact that young Black and Latino men are disproportionately likely to become involved in our criminal justice system -- as victims as well as perpetrators. We must also confront the reality that -- once they're in that system -- people of color often face harsher punishments than their peers."

The acknowledgement of these basic truths provides a basis for our nation to move forward with significant reform of our criminal justice system. As a good beginning AG Holder has "mandated a modification of the Justice Department's charging policies so that certain low-level, nonviolent drug offenders who have no ties to large-scale organizations, gangs, or cartels will no longer be charged with offenses that impose draconian mandatory sentences."

I welcome and applaud both the recognition of some of the basic inequities which have brought such profound harm and disruption to low and minority communities and the executive action he has ordered to begin the process of reform. It is my hope that this will stimulate further analysis, discussion and most importantly urgent action to make our justice system fair, accountable, effective, efficient and equal, protecting the rights of all, while improving protection and reducing violence for all communities.