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Obama: Sentencing Reform Supporter? June 9, 2009

Posted by FairSentencing in : Current News , trackback

Another star in the firmament is the new president. President Obama is filling up federal departments and agencies with new appointees, many of whom seem more receptive to the arguments FAMM has been making against mandatory sentences. President Obama himself has been the most vocal. Noting that his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, expressed skepticism about imposing long sentences for first-time drug offenders, then-candidate Obama said, “I agree with the president. The difference is, he hasn’t done anything about it. When I’m president, I will. We will review these sentences to see where we can be smarter on crime and reduce the blind and counterproductive warehousing of nonviolent offenders.” FAMM worked closely with the transition team at the Department of Justice and looks forward to working with President Obama to keep his commitment. Presidential attention and leadership on this issue could be the difference between success and further delay.

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