US to end mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug users - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23671354[/url] [quote]The Obama administration has unveiled major changes to the criminal justice system, dropping mandatory minimum sentences in certain drug cases. Such terms will not be imposed for non-violent drug offenders with no gang or cartel ties, Attorney General Eric Holder said in a speech. The US has one of the world's biggest prison populations, despite a 40-year-low in the country's crime rates. Critics say that heavy drug sentences have hit minorities hardest. "We need to ensure that incarceration is used to punish, deter and rehabilitate - not merely to convict, warehouse and forget," Mr Holder said in a speech to the American Bar Association in San Francisco on Monday.[/quote] [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/12/us-usa-crime-sentencing-idUSBRE97B03320130812[/url] [quote]The potentially far-reaching overhaul is also expected to include the creation of local guidelines to determine if cases should be subject to federal charges, and an updated plan for release of some federal prison inmates "facing extraordinary or compelling circumstances" but posing no public threat.[/quote]

Bullshit. [editline]12th August 2013[/editline] Measure 33.

But where will all the private prisons get their money from?

[quote]"We need to ensure that incarceration is used to punish, deter and rehabilitate - not merely to convict, warehouse and forget,"[/quote] This is good

[QUOTE=The mouse;41813377]But where will all the private prisons get their money from?[/QUOTE] Hopefully they won't be able to lobby against this and shut it down.

And the Obama administration has started to do something. Woo.

Good, good, good. Maybe one day the government will learn that the way to curb drug use doesn't need to involve dishing out prison sentences and stained records.

Finally something good comes our way, however this is most likely to deter the more recent negativity with the whole domestic surveillance debacle.

[QUOTE=OrionChronicles;41814014]And the Obama administration has started to do something. Woo.[/QUOTE] God I hate when people say this, just because you are uneducated on the policies of the Obama administration doesn't mean they've done nothing good. [URL]http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/[/URL] [QUOTE=Lanopo;41814367]Finally something good comes our way, however this is most likely to deter the more recent negativity with the whole domestic surveillance debacle.[/QUOTE] Policy change like this doesn't happen overnight, this has likely been in the works for months and years to some level, and has nothing to do with the surveillance. It's a positive step regardless of your negativity and paranoia. I'm not saying the Obama administration is perfect, or even close, but holy shit you guys love to be as pessimistic as possible. Blowing bad policy so out of proportion that you assume the government does nothing right or good for our country ever is just ignorant and biased.

then the republicans get back in office and take us back down

[QUOTE=Socram;41814547]God I hate when people say this, just because you are uneducated on the policies of the Obama administration doesn't mean they've done nothing good. [url]http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/[/url][/QUOTE] People post that like it makes the administration suddenly good. I don't get why they're getting praised for doing their jobs. Now we need to address a lot of civil rights issues (gays, etc), domestic surveillance programs and other wasteful programs.

It's about fucking time. I wonder how many people will be released as a result of this.

[QUOTE=MR-X;41814583]People post that like it makes the administration suddenly good. I don't get why they're getting praised for doing their jobs. Now we need to address a lot of civil rights issues (gays, etc), domestic surveillance programs and other wasteful programs.[/QUOTE] I never said it makes the administration suddenly good, I'm just arguing that you need to see both sides of the administration and be reasonable. It's really easy to sit at your computer and list all the problems that need to be fixed, ignore what they have done, and rage about the negative things. FP and the rest of the internet is blinded by their own pessimism and ignorance. No administration is perfect.

And to think that Canada only just introduced these recently. I look forward to a swift (*snort*) reversal from Harper's party.

Still needs more reformations, but it's a start at least. "Drug users" and "punish" don't belong in the same sentence. [editline]12th August 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=elixwhitetail;41814651]And to think that Canada only just introduced these recently. I look forward to a swift (*snort*) reversal from Harper's party.[/QUOTE] Canada has basically been in a three legged political race towards forward thinking policies, and the federal conservatives are like the morbidly obese partner who's suddenly died from exposure while the race is going on and fucking dragged everybody down with them.

Uh, question: Didn't Congress pass minimum sentencing laws, which then means that Congress must repeal those laws? The Justice Department can prioritize, sure, but they can't just refuse to enforce the laws Congress passed and write their own. What they're doing is temporary and doesn't address the real problems, and it'll be completely undone as soon as we have enough cowboy hat-waving "tough on crime" Republican in the White House. Besides, the really tyrannical mandatory sentencing laws are all at the state level, which the administration can't touch. The states are where you find the real corruption between judges, private prisons, and prosecutors. I guess it's the best we'll get, though, until voters wake up and do something about the fact that Congress has been taken over by crazy people.

[QUOTE=OrionChronicles;41814014]And the Obama administration has started to do something. Woo.[/QUOTE] We were attacked by Osama and bush went after saddam. Not only did bush declare war on the wrong guy, he did a terrible job at it. Within his first term Obama has bin laden riddled with bullet holes lying at the bottom of some undisclosed shore in the Middle East. Also I just watched a documentary about this exact thing. There are people serving thousand year sentences for carrying a little too many rocks on them. That's fucking stupid. [editline]12th August 2013[/editline] I don't care if they are selling to children, which they aren't, that doesn't mean someone needs to rot for the rest of their life. Drug problems should be solved through understanding and education, but most of all empathy. not this all out zero tolerance "war". Stop arresting people and locking them up, actually try to find the root of the problem. Because as it stands the stance on drugs is much like thinking treating your pneumonia cough is gonna make the pneumonia go away. You may not have a cough but the pneumonia is still present, killing you. [editline]12th August 2013[/editline] I hate this fucking demonization. Every time I hear some dipshit in congress spewing the usual rhetoric like save the children, buyers and sellers are sociopathic monsters... Tell me, does a sociopathic monster cry when he's reminded he was never there for his children because he was constantly slinging rock, cause food stamps don't fuckin buy diapers

Hey, if this goes through a certain System of a Down song will become slightly obsolete! [quote="From 'Prison Song'"]All research and successful drug policy shows That treatment should be increased, And law enforcement decreased, While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences,[/quote]

Not only that but upon catching and punishing these people unfairly... You've made them a convicted felon. So not only did you take a portion of someone's life for them, you essentially ruined it because most job apps with "convicted felon" box checked go straight to the trash. So good job, now they're even more broken and hopeless, and back to slinging rock. Not because they're monsters, but because they're never given a choice or chance

[QUOTE=Socram;41814632]I never said it makes the administration suddenly good, I'm just arguing that you need to see both sides of the administration and be reasonable. It's really easy to sit at your computer and list all the problems that need to be fixed, ignore what they have done, and rage about the negative things. FP and the rest of the internet is blinded by their own pessimism and ignorance. No administration is perfect.[/QUOTE] it's like they think everyone in the government works in unison. like there isn't congress or parties or individuals with their own agendas. just one big fucking building where all the evil powerful men gather round and think of evil ways to enslave the country i also hate it when someone says "X was the best/worst president" "Obama is the worst". Different times, different circumstances. It'd be naive to think there would be a perfect president who can please everyone and work with congress with or without making compromises.

[QUOTE=Socram;41814547]God I hate when people say this, just because you are uneducated on the policies of the Obama administration doesn't mean they've done nothing good. [URL]http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/[/URL] Policy change like this doesn't happen overnight, this has likely been in the works for months and years to some level, and has nothing to do with the surveillance. It's a positive step regardless of your negativity and paranoia. I'm not saying the Obama administration is perfect, or even close, but holy shit you guys love to be as pessimistic as possible. Blowing bad policy so out of proportion that you assume the government does nothing right or good for our country ever is just ignorant and biased.[/QUOTE] I meant in relation to drugs.

A dude with some pot on him shouldnt get 20 years while a dude that killed a dude only get 15. Thats fucked up dude.