To: The United States Senate
Mandatory Minimum Sentences: The most Draconian, Unjust Law Ever?
Twenty years in prison for firing a warning shot? Life without parole for a being “a girlfriend and bag holder and money holder” in a drug conspiracy? Are mandatory minimum sentences the most draconian, unjust laws ever? Tens of thousands of people are sitting in jail for low level drug and other offenses.
Take Action today to urge your Senators to support the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013.
Why is this important?
These laws tie the hands of prosecutors and judges around the country and they disproportionately impact people of color. In fact, as Sen. Paul correctly stated recently, "the majority of illegal drug users and dealers nationwide are white, but three-fourths of all people in prison for drug offenses are African American or Latino."
To address these extreme punishments, costing millions of taxpayer dollars as well as being unjust, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013, which reforms the mandatory minimum laws and provides judges with more discretion in sentencing.