Quote

More than 3,100 federal inmates were being released Friday by the Bureau of Prisons as part of a criminal justice overhaul signed into law last year.

The First Step Act gives judges more discretion in sentencing, eases mandatory minimum sentences and encourages inmates to participate in programs aimed at reducing recidivism. The Trump administration has promoted the overhaul as a rare bipartisan effort to address concerns that too many Americans were imprisoned for nonviolent crimes as a result of the drug war.

The inmates were walking out of federal prisons and halfway houses across the country. The releases are part of an increase for "good conduct time" under the law. More than 1,600 other inmates have qualified for reduced sentences under a separate provision of the law that allows some prisoners locked up for crack cocaine charges to ask for sentencing reduction.

The Bureau of Prisons declined to provide specific details about the inmates being released, citing privacy concerns. Nearly 900 were to be turned over to other law enforcement agencies because of detainers filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local authorities, according to Hugh Hurwitz, the acting director of the Bureau of Prisons.

"The timely, efficient and effective implementation of the First Step Act is a priority for the Department of Justice and this administration," Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said at a news conference. "Using top-of-the-line research, people and technology, the department intends to implement this law fully and on time, with the goal of reducing crime, enhancing public safety, and strengthening the rule of law."

Officials also released a risk and needs assessment tool, which is meant to measure a prisoner's likelihood of committing new crimes. The tool expands on a security assessment tool already in place within the Bureau of Prisons that helps to predict inmate misconduct, Hurwitz said.

There will also be a public comment period and several "listening sessions" in the coming months for advocates and others to share thoughts about the tool.

"While we believe this tool to predict recidivism is an improvement over the existing system, we also recognize that there is room for additional change as we continue through the implementation process and gather more data," Rosen said.

The Justice Department is diverting about $75 million from within the Bureau of Prisons' budget, which was used for care, programming and administrative tasks, in order to put in place the First Step Act. Officials would not provide more specific information and it wasn't immediately clear whether that would cause any disruption to other federal prison programs.

Federal officials say they were working with Congress to ensure additional funding for the coming years.

Quote (Beowulf @ 20 Jul 2019 02:00)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-step-act-thousands-released-from-prisons-halfway-houses-today-2019-07-19/

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/3k-federal-inmates-released-criminal-justice-overhaul-64444763

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-prisons-idUSKCN1UE25G


a bunch are essentially being deported but another win for the country with bi partisan policy to release non violent people from cages

Quote (NatureNames @ 20 Jul 2019 09:50)

How about Trump doing nothing but apologize about booting Turkey from the F-35 program because they bought S-400 missile systems from Russia. Turkey is now supposed to be sanctioned under the CAATSA law.
Will Trump do nothing? Claiming executive authority and stating CAATSA is unconstitutional? Apparently Trump already promised Erdoğan at the G-20 that there would be no sanctions over the S-400 purchase. And yet Congress, The Pentagon, and even the State Department is saying CAATSA has been triggered and sanctions must be placed. Trump has been silent on the matter for 5 days.

In other news, Iran has apparently seized an UK oil tanker and nobody is doing anything but using gentle politically correct language like the UK saying the action is "unacceptable" and they are "deeply concerned". Trump said he will "talk to the UK and we have no written agreement". What?

Quote (Black XistenZ @ Jul 20 2019 01:10am)

Would you prefer him to jump straight into war with Iran? There must be consequences, but the matter is too delicate for hamfisted, short-sighted action.

Quote (NatureNames @ Jul 20 2019 04:38am)

Tell that to Iran. I think I can hear them laughing.

Quote (NatureNames @ Jul 20 2019 03:50am)

How about Trump doing nothing but apologize about booting Turkey from the F-35 program because they bought S-400 missile systems from Russia. Turkey is now supposed to be sanctioned under the CAATSA law.
Will Trump do nothing? Claiming executive authority and stating CAATSA is unconstitutional? Apparently Trump already promised Erdoğan at the G-20 that there would be no sanctions over the S-400 purchase. And yet Congress, The Pentagon, and even the State Department is saying CAATSA has been triggered and sanctions must be placed. Trump has been silent on the matter for 5 days.

In other news, Iran has apparently seized an UK oil tanker and nobody is doing anything but using gentle politically correct language like the UK saying the action is "unacceptable" and they are "deeply concerned". Trump said he will "talk to the UK and we have no written agreement". What?

Quote (Beowulf @ Jul 19 2019 08:00pm)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-step-act-thousands-released-from-prisons-halfway-houses-today-2019-07-19/

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/3k-federal-inmates-released-criminal-justice-overhaul-64444763

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-prisons-idUSKCN1UE25G





a bunch are essentially being deported but another win for the country with bi partisan policy to release non violent people from cages

Quote (Black XistenZ @ Jul 20 2019 04:10am)

Would you prefer him to jump straight into war with Iran? There must be consequences, but the matter is too delicate for hamfisted, short-sighted action.

Quote (Skinned @ Jul 20 2019 09:05am)

Strait of Hormuz alone is worth making sure we get along with Iran. The water belong to Omen, UAE, and Iran on the North Coast...out of the three Iran is the only advanced supernation...UAE is rich and Omen has wealth but it is more centered around rich individuals, royals, and a few businessmen as opposed to enduring public institutions.

That being said, the citizens of the United States elected a narcissistic man-child to be the sole controller of the foreign policy of the United States. This man can say things to other nations and they can become law that way by way of treaty. Given the choice was between two criminals, one a gangster and one a sexual predator, but at least the gangster knew who the players were and what the game was. Trump walked into the presidency without having ever thought about United States foreign policy a single time in his life.

Smart world players are exploiting the situation for their short-term gain to become even more powerful in their regions. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, all the rivals of the United States, have grown exponentially in power and influence during Trump's presidency. So exploit the current weak sovereign for short-term gain and entrench for when the Americans have a good leader again.

The worse sort of person in power is the fake tough guy probably.