Five missed opportunities for criminal justice reform Congress has the chance to get right this year
The First Step Implementation Act would allow certain sentencing reforms passed in the First Step Act to be applied retroactively, provide judges with additional discretion to apply the appropriate punishment in criminal cases, and allow for the sealing and expungement of nonviolent crimes individuals committed as a minor, among other things.
The COVID-19 Safer Detention Act would require an individualized determination of suitability for compassionate release or transfer to home detention for the fast-growing number of individuals in federal prison over the age of 60.
Both bills have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and have a strong number of bipartisan cosponsors in the House. They also have strong support among advocates with groups as diverse as the Due Process Institute, R Street Institute, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers endorsing the legislation.