Holder signals shift in war on drugs policy
Analysts react to U S Attorney General Eric Holder’s plan to reduce charges for certain nonviolent drug offenders and ease mandatory minimums. The move, announced in San Francisco, would grant prosecutors more discretion and aim to cut rising prison costs while changing the nation’s approach to drug enforcement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Eric Holder
Justice Department
Huffington Post
Holder
American Bar Association
San Francisco
Holder speech signals reform in drug war shift
Attorney General Eric Holder frames the 40 year War on Drugs as overly punitive arguing that too many Americans are jailed for long terms for nonviolent offenses. He calls for fewer mandatory minimums and greater prosecutorial discretion though critics say the policy change is marginal given federal share of incarceration.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tim Dickinlson
Rolling Stone
Eric Holder
Holder
U.S
Washington
Neera Tanden
Center For American Progress
America
Common sense on drug law reforms urged by Rocky Mount Telegram
The Rocky Mount Telegram argues for common sense drug laws and urges the United States to grant judges more sentencing flexibility. It criticizes mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenders as unjust and costly, supporting Holder’s call to abandon them to better allocate resources to enforcement and prevention.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rocky Mount
N.C
United States
Holder
Obama sidestepping Congress again in drug cases
Attorney General Eric Holder orders federal prosecutors to stop recording drug quantities in small-fry cases, aiming to ease mandatory minimum pressures from 1980s and 1990s laws. The Obama administration sidesteps Congress, limiting the scope of change possible through DOJ actions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peter Weber
Eric Holder
Obama
Congress
Holder
Justice Department
Justice Department actions prompt congressional questions
Jack Dunphy of National Review questions why the Justice Department pursues low level crimes and imposes draconian minimums. He argues the issues should be resolved by Congress and cautions against ignoring existing laws. He says laws exist and should be changed only through proper process.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jack Dunphy
National Review
Justice Department
Congress
Mr. Holder
Holder speech marks watershed moment in criminal justice reform
Peniel E. Joseph writes that Attorney General Eric Holder’s address to the American Bar Association signals a major shift in federal drug war policy aimed at reducing mandatory minimums. The piece credits Holder with advancing voting rights and reforming the justice system amid criticism of NSA transparency.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eric Holder Jr
American Bar Association
San Francisco
Holder
Jason Henry
The
New York Times
Peniel E. Joseph
Justice Department
America
Eric Holder
Barack Obama
Obama
National Security Agency
Rethinking Drug Sentencing To Ease Prison Overcrowding
The Boston Globe argues that with prisons at about 40 percent over capacity the war on drugs needs a reset. Focus on big players and violent crime, not automatic long sentences for nonviolent offenses. Holder’s approach has earned respectful hearings, signaling a shift.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston Globe
Holder
Change confusing nation's drug situation From the Washington Times
Aging hippies have sought reefer dreams as states ease marijuana laws and the White House backs it. Attorney General Holder proposes limiting forfeiture statutes that seize homes and property from uncharged people. The piece critiques police profits from cash seizures and questions softened laws for youth. It cites a Partnership for DrugFree America survey showing mixed views on legality and strong parental concerns about teen brain development.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington Times
White House
Eric H. Holder Jr
Nixon
Holder
America
Partnership At
DrugFree.org
Colorado
Washington
Holder Adopts Cautious Drug Reform Amid Mass Incarceration
Federal review notes the war on drugs has produced an unaffordable, oversized system with the United States holding the world’s highest incarceration rate. Holder proposes reducing mandatory minimums for non violent offenses and giving judges more discretion while bipartisan bills seek a safety valve. Critics warn reform faces entrenched policy inertia across Nixon era origins to today’s marijuana measures.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dallas Morning News
Eric Holder
America
United States
U.S
Holder
American Bar Association
Texas
Congress
Rand Paul
Kentucky
Patrick Leahy
Vermont
Richard Nixon
Colorado
Washington
Justice Department
CNN
Sanjay Gupta
Reforming laws that ruined lives and budgets
The Seattle Times notes growing bipartisan support to reform harsh drug policies and reduce federal prison overcrowding. It cites Reagan era origins, Holder directives to ease nonviolent offenders, and long term shifts in marijuana attitudes, with potential legislative action to fix failed justice costs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Seattle Times
Reagan
Tip O’neill
D-Mass
Holder
American Civil Liberties Union
Carlton Turner
Congress
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