WASHINGTON (AP) – A major criminal justice bill backed by President Donald Trump has cleared a key Senate hurdle, with supporters securing an 82-12 vote to advance the measure.
The Senate will consider a variety of amendments from opponents before holding a final vote later this week.
The bill would give judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and allow about 2,600 federal prisoners sentenced for crack cocaine offenses before August 2010 the opportunity to petition for a reduced penalty.
The bill also boosts education and rehabilitation programs in federal prisons.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas says a number of states, including his home state, have shown it’s possible to reduce prison populations and still lower the crime rate. He says the bipartisan effort is not about being tough on crime or soft on crime. He says, “this is about being smart on crime.”
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