Fischer Statement on Criminal Justice Reform Bill

Statement

Today, the U.S. Senate approved a criminal justice reform bill, known as the First Step Act. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) voted in favor the legislation, which passed by a vote of 87 to 12.

"Though I had reservations with the initial bill, I believe the revised version made good faith changes to address my concerns. Specifically, I appreciated adjustments to overly narrow provisions that could have qualified fentanyl traffickers and those convicted of gun crimes related to drug trafficking to earn time credits.

"As part of this process, I visited with numerous law enforcement and judicial officials in Nebraska. The revised bill incorporates important public safety considerations, and provides for fairness and consistency of federal criminal law. Furthermore, this legislation would enable judges to use proven tools from federal statutes to avoid clear injustices on specific, low-risk cases."

The revised version of the First Step Act:

* Ensures those convicted of gun crimes related to drug trafficking aren't eligible for early release.

* Strengthens language on earned time credits that would have only excluded a fraction of federal fentanyl traffickers.

* Adds strong language to exclude violent offenders from receiving earned time credits, ensuring individuals convicted of more serious crimes could not use them for pre-release custody.

The First Step Act has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the International Union of Police Associations, which represents more than 100,000 active-duty, rank and file law enforcement professionals across the U.S.

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