Schumer & Booker Are Sponsors of New Comprehensive Justice Reform Legislation--Has Support from Conservatives & Liberals; Under Bill, Many in Prison Will Get Drug Treatment & Job Training So They Can Come Out of Prison & Live Productive Lives

Statement

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Cory Booker today called on Congress to pass the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, comprehensive legislation aimed at recalibrating prison sentences for certain drug offenders and instead, target violent criminals. The bipartisan legislation also seeks to curb recidivism by helping prisoners successfully re-enter society. The legislation is also sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

"Crafting criminal justice reform in this Congress is like a Rubik's cube, but this group of Republicans and Democrats worked hard to come up with a fair and balanced package that will make a real difference. This bill would make much needed reforms to sentencing for non-violent offenders, resulting in a much fairer criminal justice system. I'm hopeful that we can continue moving the ball forward in a bipartisan way to make the reforms our system needs," Schumer said.

"For decades, our broken criminal justice system has held our nation back from realizing its full potential. Today, we take a step forward. Mass incarceration has cost taxpayers billions of dollars, drained our economy, compromised public safety, hurt our children, and disproportionately affected communities of color while devaluing the very idea of justice in America. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act is a promising, bipartisan step forward to help right this wrong," Booker said.

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