Ranking Member Cohen: President’s Prison Visit Shows “Fierce Urgency of Now” for Criminal Justice Reform, Congress Must Act

[WASHINGTON, DC] – With President Obama capping off a week of bringing fairness to our criminal justice system by becoming the first-ever sitting President to visit a federal prison, House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Ranking Member Steve Cohen (TN-09) urged Congressional leadership to act swiftly to support the President’s call to action and pass a comprehensive criminal justice reform, which would be a boon for justice in America and save taxpayer dollars.

“With each instance of excessive police force—disproportionately against people of color—and every life sentence handed down for non-violent drug crimes, the urgent need for a top-to-bottom overhaul of our criminal justice system crystallizes a little bit more,” said Congressman Cohen. “President Obama has taken encouraging and significant steps this week to make things better and he is now highlighting the ‘fierce urgency of now’ that Dr. King spoke of half a century ago.”

In addition to serving as a member of the Over-Criminalization Task Force and authoring several bills meant to alleviate problems in our policing, sentencing, and drug policies, the Congressman is also a cosponsor of the SAFE Justice Act, legislation quickly gaining bipartisan momentum—including a reported endorsement by Speaker Boehner today—that is aimed at safely and comprehensively reining in the size and associated costs of the federal criminal code and prison system.

Congressman Cohen continued: “The President is right that our justice system should recognize the difference between dangerous criminals who deserve long sentences and young people who have simply made mistakes in their youth, but he cannot change the laws that ignore that fact by himself. Congress must act to bring real change, fairness, and justice to how we police our communities and sentence convicts in a way that keeps citizens safe while saving taxpayer money.”

The SAFE Justice Act, introduced by Over-Criminalization Task Force Co-Chairs Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05) and Bobby Scott (VA-03), takes a broad-based approach to improving the federal sentencing and corrections system, from front-end sentencing reform to back-end release policies. It is also the first bill that addresses the federal supervision system – ensuring that probation does a better job stopping the revolving door at federal prisons. The legislation, which is inspired by the successes of states across the country, will reduce recidivism, concentrate prison space on violent and career criminals, increase the use of evidence-based alternatives to incarceration, curtail over-criminalization, reduce crime, and save money. Additional information about the legislation is available here.

“Whether it’s the SAFE Justice Act with Congressmen Sensenbrenner, the CARERS Act with Senators Rand Paul, or any other smart policy idea my door is always open and I welcome the opportunity to work with Democrats and Republicans to solve these tough problems. For our physical and fiscal safety, Congress has to act,” said Congressman Cohen.

The Congressman is the lead Democratic House sponsor of the bipartisan CARERS Act, which is being led in the Senate by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), to let states set their own medical marijuana policies, recognize a legitimate medical use for marijuana at the federal level, allow Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend safe and effective marijuana-related treatments, and increase access to a non-psychoactive treatment that could help save lives. And just last week, the House approved legislation authored by Congressman Cohen aimed at cutting short the “school-to-prison pipeline” that disproportionately affects African-American communities.

Congressman Cohen also introduced legislation in May with Congressman Lacy Clay (MO-01, which includes Ferguson, Missouri) to help encourage incidents of deadly force used by police to be investigated and, if need be, prosecuted, by an independent entity as well as provide improved training for police officers. It currently has 36 cosponsors in the House.

“America received a sobering wakeup call last year in Ferguson, followed by others in Staten Island, Cleveland, North Charleston, and more recently in Baltimore,” said Congressman Cohen when introducing the legislation. “The need for reform is as clear as it is urgent. Officers need better training. Excessive force must end. Justice shouldn’t just depend on whether a bystander catches bad acts on video. Expecting local prosecutors to prosecute the same officers upon whom they rely to do their job presents a clear conflict of interest, and it is unnecessary. Congress must act, and I am proud to join with my friend, Congressman Lacy Clay, to bring fairness to our criminal justice system.”