38 Search results for "drug offenses"

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder endorsed a proposal that would result in shorter prison sentences for many nonviolent drug offenses. Holder says the change would rein in runaway federal prison cost and create a fairer criminal justice system. 

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions inserted himself into the Senate’s affairs this week, sending Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley a letter calling The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act “a grave error” that would “reduce sentences for a highly dangerous cohort of criminals.” The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 16-5 to advance the bill that would ease […]

While he’s wrapping up his presidency, leaving a lasting legacy on the U.S. prison system looks to be one of President Barack Obama’s goals. He’s already done more than most presidents in regards to granting clemency and commutations for inmates, but he’s not done. 

  The following article is from Brookings. It was written by Jonathan Rothwell. By: Jonathan Rothwell The social mobility of black Americans has suffered collateral damage from the “War on Drugs.” Being convicted of a crime has devastating effects on the employment prospects and incomes of ex-felons and their children, as my Brookings colleagues and other scholars have found.

A new report released by the London School of Economics names the United States of America the prison capital of the world. By a wide margin, the U.S. imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in the world, with many offenders doing time for drug-related offenses. 

As part of a new initiative, President Obama plans to dramatically increase the number of drug offenders he considers for clemency.  According to White House spokesman Jay Carney, the president has requested that the Justice Department set up a process to ensure that anyone who has a good case for commutation has their application evaluated.

By: Melissa Shaw Debates over the demonization of young black people in America are nothing new. The perception that drug and alcohol addiction is rampant among young black Americans therefore comes as little surprise. After all, ten times more African Americans than white people are arrested for drug-related offenses. A study indicates that black youth are less […]

Clarence Aaron is one of 8 prisoners whose sentences were pardoned by President Obama on Thursday. Aaron is one of many first-time nonviolent drug offenders sentenced to life without parole. His story was widely used as a prime example of injustice within the prison system. 

Attorney General Eric Holder will announce major drug sentencing reforms today. The Justice Department will avoid charging low-level and nonviolent drug offenders with crimes that carry mandatory minimum sentences, as long as they’re not connected with criminal organizations.

The Obama Administration has announced a new policy for fighting drug abuse; one that emphasizes treatment over incarceration. The plan will use public health tools to address the root causes of drug use and abuse, and divert offenders to rehabilitation programs.

A recent survey of adolescent teens between the ages of 12-17 years-old finds that drug and alcohol use is lowest amongst Black and Asian teenagers.So why are we the most likely to be incarcerated? Read more at BlackYouthProject.com!

 by Cheryldean Peters Beginning in the early 1600s, my ancestors were legally forced into slavery and robbed of their freedom. They were involuntarily exploited, beaten and forced to work as servants, which primarily helped generate income for America’s economy. Their servitude drastically enhanced local and colonial economics while creating generational wealth for their oppressors. Africans […]