Share

The Latest: Senate rejects amendments to sentencing bill

Share

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate’s consideration of criminal justice legislation (all times local):

9:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump is hailing Senate passage of a sweeping criminal justice bill.

Trump tweets, “America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes.”

He says, “This will keep our communities safer, and provide hope and a second chance, to those who earn it.

Trending:
KJP Panics, Hangs Up in Middle of Interview When Reporter Shows He Isn't a Democratic Party Propagandist

Trump adds, “I look forward to signing this into law!”

The bill gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and boosts prisoner rehabilitation efforts. It would also reduce the sentences of some drug offenders currently serving time.

It passed the Senate by an 87-12 vote Tuesday night. The House is expected to pass the bill this week, sending it to Trump for his signature.

___

8:52 p.m.

The Senate has passed a sweeping criminal justice overhaul supported by groups on the left and right, handing President Donald Trump a victory as Congress prepares to adjourn for the holidays.

The bill gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and boosts prisoner rehabilitation efforts. It also reduces the life sentence for some drug offenders with three convictions, or “three strikes,” to 25 years. The changes would only apply to federal prisoners.

The Senate vote is the culmination of years of negotiations aimed at addressing concerns that the nation’s war on drugs has exploded the prison population without helping people prepare for their return to society.

The vote in the Senate Tuesday was 87-12.

Related:
Former MSNBC Host Chuck Todd Furious After Network Hires Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel

The House is also expected to pass the measure this week, sending it to Trump for his signature.

__

8:20 p.m.

The Senate has rejected a series of amendments to a criminal justice bill that have been sought by critics of the legislation, setting the stage for final passage Tuesday night.

The bill gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and boosts prisoner rehabilitation efforts. President Donald Trump supports it.

Opponents say the bill endangers public safety and have sought to expand the types of crimes that would prevent prisoners from earning early release to a halfway house or home confinement. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas says his efforts would have ensured that no violent offenders or sex offenders were released early.

But supporters of the bill say Cotton’s amendment is too expansive and would prevent at least 30,000 prisoners from participating in programs designed to help prisoners return to society.

____

12:30 p.m.

Critics of a criminal justice bill in the Senate are making a final push to amend the legislation in a way that could kill its prospects.

The Senate voted 82-12 Monday evening to advance the bill, which gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and boosts prisoner rehabilitation efforts.

Now the Senate is turning its attention to several amendments. One would exclude more prisoners from participating in a program that allows them to earn credits that can be used to gain an earlier release to a halfway house or home confinement to finish out their sentence.

Another would require that victims be notified before a prisoner gets that earlier release.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois calls the proposals “poison pills” that would unravel bipartisan support for the bill.

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Conversation