04.29.16

Sullivan Cosponsors Legislation to Reform Criminal Justice System

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) has announced that he has joined a bipartisan group of senators co-sponsoring the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, comprehensive legislation aimed at recalibrating prison sentences for low level non-violent drug offenders, granting federal judges greater discretion at sentencing for these offenders, and ensuring protection of our communities from high level drug dealers and violent criminals. 

Past laws have resulted in the “over-criminalization” of minor offenses which has resulted in the long-term incarceration of low level non-violent offenders. For years, a strong coalition of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have agreed that sentencing procedures need to be reviewed and revised to deal with current incarceration issues while also maintaining public safety. After the bill was revised to ensure that violent felons will not benefit from reduced sentences, Senator Sullivan added his name to the bill. 

“Over the past year and a half, there’s been growing bipartisan support for this legislation from constituents and community groups across Alaska and across the country. After hearing from many of these groups, reading numerous studies, and careful deliberation, I’ve reached the conclusion that incarceration has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and yet recidivism rates remain unacceptably high, which is an enduring problem that impacts all Alaskans and Americans.  We need to do better.  This is a step in the right direction,” Senator Sullivan said. “As the former attorney general of Alaska, my priority was to ensure that the punishment fit the crime while also ensuring that our communities remained safe from violent offenders. This bipartisan legislation strikes the balance that we need to protect law enforcement’s ability to aggressively target violent criminals and serious offenders, while focusing on justice, rehabilitation, and public safety." 

Additionally, this bill provides a new mandatory minimum sentence for interstate domestic violence offenses. Combatting domestic violence and sexual assault has been a major priority of Senator Sullivan’s throughout his career in Alaska and now in the Senate. Another key aim of this legislation is to promote the successful re-entry of former prisoners into society once they have been released and to curb rates of recidivism.

The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 is sponsored by Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Assistant Majority Leader John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Judiciary Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Mark Warner (D-Va., Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

###