http://cnsnews.com/blog/michael-morris/senator-leahy-justice-dep-t-incarcerating-criminals-doesn-t-make-us-saferSenator Leahy on Justice Dep’t.: Incarcerating Criminals Doesn’t Make Us Safer
January 28, 2015 - 2:17 PM
By Michael Morris
During a hearing on the nomination of Loretta Lynch to serve as Attorney General to the United States, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), ranking member, Senate Judiciary Committee seemed to suggest that the Justice Department spends too much money on incarcerating criminals and that such incarcerations don’t keep Americans safer.
“Nearly one-third of its budget goes to the Bureau of Prisons, draining vital resources from nearly all other public safety priorities,” said Senator Leahy. “A significant factor leading to this budget imbalance is the unnecessary creation of more and more mandatory minimum sentences.”
Senator Leahy then went after other lawmakers and suggested that minimum sentencing laws don’t keep Americans safe.
“Passing new mandatory minimum laws has become a convenient way for lawmakers to claim that they are tough on crimes – even when there is no evidence that these sentences keep us safer,” said Senator Leahy.
He went on, saying the following:
“That policy fallacy is one of the reasons we have the largest prison population in the world. And it is why I oppose all mandatory minimums. We must work together on thoughtful solutions to address our mass incarceration problem.”
Surely the Justice Department exists for the purpose of bringing to justice those who have committed actionable offenses. If not, then for what other purpose does it exist?
Whatever the answer may be, Senator Leahy ensures us that “[t]he next Attorney General will play an essential role in protecting all Americans on these issues and many others."
