FIRST STEP Act | Reason Archives (original) (raw)
The DOOBIE Act Would Limit Government Discrimination Against People Who Have Smoked Weed
Under the law, the feds couldn't deny you a job or security clearance just because you've used marijuana in the past.
Billy Binion | 7.19.2024 12:16 PM
Trump Decries Disproportionate Drug Penalties While Threatening Dealers With Death
The former and possibly future president hopes voters will overlook his incoherence.
Jacob Sullum | 5.29.2024 12:01 AM
Trump's Anti-Crime Agenda Contradicts His Criticism of Biden's Legislative Record
Since he favors aggressive drug law enforcement, severe penalties, and impunity for abusive police officers, he may have trouble persuading black voters that he is on their side.
Jacob Sullum | 5.23.2024 7:10 PM
The Justice Department Quietly Ends Reprosecution of Man Who Received Clemency From Trump
Philip Esformes was sentenced for charges on which a jury hung. After receiving a commutation, the federal government vowed to try to put him back in prison.
Billy Binion | 2.23.2024 2:47 PM
Colleen Eren: Why Donald Trump Signed the FIRST STEP Act
The author of Reform Nation explains how celebrity, philanthropy, and activism produced the most significant prison reform in decades.
Nick Gillespie | 11.8.2023 4:51 PM
Trump Can't Decide Whether To Free Drug Dealers or Kill Them
His bloody rhetoric undermines his defense of the sentencing reforms he proudly embraced as president.
Jacob Sullum | 6.28.2023 12:01 AM
DeSantis Says He Would Seek Repeal of FIRST STEP Act if Elected President
DeSantis calls the bill a "jailbreak," a gross misrepresentation of the criminal justice reform bill.
C.J. Ciaramella | 5.30.2023 10:40 AM
Ron DeSantis Reportedly Plans To Portray Trump As Soft on Crime
Trump touted his support for sentencing reform as evidence of his "deep compassion," which DeSantis sees as a weakness.
Jacob Sullum | 3.30.2023 3:35 PM
Hiring Formerly Incarcerated People Is Good, Actually
Some conservative media outlets and politicians lambast the practice. But if you care about public safety, that opposition doesn't make sense.
Billy Binion | 9.14.2022 4:46 PM
Did Ketanji Brown Jackson Flout the Law When She Reduced a Drug Dealer's Sentence?
The Supreme Court nominee's critics say she clearly did, but several federal appeals courts disagree.
Jacob Sullum | 4.4.2022 4:30 PM
Tom Cotton's Absurd Question About Contacting a Heroin Dealer's Victims Reveals a Drug Warrior's Demagoguery
The mindlessly punitive senator grilled Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson about her resentencing of a drug offender.
Jacob Sullum | 3.24.2022 4:15 PM
Compassionate Releases of Federal Prisoners Surged During the Pandemic
The record number of reduced sentences still represented a tiny share of the federal prison population.
Jacob Sullum | 3.11.2022 3:15 PM
Thousands of Federal Prisoners Aren't Getting Mandated Time Credits Because Prison Officials Won't Negotiate
COVID-19 has led to foot dragging in implementing some FIRST STEP Act reforms.
Scott Shackford | 11.19.2021 12:45 PM
The FIRST STEP Act Has Reduced Prison Terms for More Than 7,000 People
While that's nothing to sneeze at, it is a modest accomplishment in the context of a federal prison system that keeps more than 150,000 Americans behind bars.
Jacob Sullum | 9.7.2020 1:15 PM
Trump's Vague Commitment to Criminal Justice Reform
The president's daughter says "we’re just getting started." Some details would be nice.
Jacob Sullum | 9.2.2020 12:01 AM
Federal Judge Calls Plea Bargain Deals That Limit Compassionate Release 'Appallingly Cruel'
Congress expanded compassionate release to allow inmates to petition judges, but federal prosecutors tried to use plea bargain agreements to subvert reforms, the judge says.
C.J. Ciaramella | 5.12.2020 1:52 PM
Elizabeth Warren Adopts Cory Booker's Plan for a Better Presidential Clemency System
Shifting the process from the Justice Department to the White House can help eliminate bureaucracy and meddling from prosecutors.
Scott Shackford | 2.27.2020 2:45 PM
Trump Might Not Support Criminal Justice Reforms Anymore. That Doesn't Erase His Past Success.
We probably won’t see a follow up to the FIRST STEP Act. But it’s still been a boon to federal prisoners.
Scott Shackford | 9.24.2019 3:30 PM
Cory Booker's 'Second Look' Reforms Would Create More Chances To Reduce Federal Prison Sentences
Judges would be permitted to rethink sentences after 10 years have been served, particularly for inmates over the age of 50.
Scott Shackford | 7.24.2019 9:45 AM
Tucker Carlson's Unhinged Rant Against Prison Reform Makes Us All Dumber
Carlson claims the law "allowed hundreds of violent criminals" back on the street. Here's what he didn't tell you.
C.J. Ciaramella | 7.23.2019 12:13 PM
Thousands Freed from Federal Prison by FIRST STEP Act Reforms
Many benefit from an increase in "good time" credits and from retroactive reductions in crack cocaine mandatory minimum sentences.
Scott Shackford | 7.19.2019 2:10 PM
A Terminally Ill, Wheelchair-Bound Inmate Applied for Compassionate Release. The Justice Department Argued He Wasn't Dying Fast Enough To Qualify.
The FIRST STEP Act gives dying inmates the opportunity to appeal to a judge for compassionate release. This case shows why.
C.J. Ciaramella | 5.3.2019 2:00 PM
How Trump Went from Appointing Jeff Sessions to Signing the FIRST STEP Act
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin gives advice for changing hearts on criminal justice reform.
Zuri Davis | 4.19.2019 9:22 AM
Trump's Budget Shortchanges the Prison Reform Bill He Signed
The FIRST STEP Act called for $75 million for reentry programs. It's not listed in the White House's summary.
Scott Shackford | 3.12.2019 12:30 PM
Congress Passed the FIRST STEP Act. What's the Second Step?
C.J. Ciaramella | 3.7.2019 6:00 AM
Van Jones Praises Conservatives on Criminal Justice Reform: 'You Are Stealing My Issue!'
Overall, CPAC attendees seem enthusiastic about criminal justice reform.
Joe Setyon | 2.28.2019 4:25 PM
Spending Bill Ignores Promised Funding for Major Criminal Justice Reform Passed Last Year
The FIRST STEP Act was supposed to get $75 million to fund reentry programs and job training. That's missing from the budget bill being voted on Thursday.
Eric Boehm | 2.14.2019 6:15 PM