Congress is working on what supporters call a long-overdue reform bill for federal prison sentencing.
“Federal prisons are filled beyond capacity with people serving grotesquely long sentences,” Antonio Ginatta, US advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, said in a news release.
To counter effects of the “tough on crime” era that began back in the 1980s, the Safe, Accountable, Fair, Effective Justice Act (SAFE) has been introduced by Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner and Bobby Scott.
The bill focuses on pretrial, over-criminalization, post-confinement probation, mandatory minimum sentencing, reform of sentencing statutes, and retroactive application of sentence reductions.
One example of the legislation would be to prevent sentencing enhancements that can turn 10-year sentences into life sentences for prior drug crimes.
SAFE was introduced on June 25, 2015. The Human Rights Watch report states it would eliminate disproportionately long and unfair sentences being threatened by prosecutors.
It would also make changes in the underused “compassionate release program” for “extraordinary and compelling” circumstances, says Human Rights Watch.
Prisoners could petition a court directly for a compassionate release, including release because of the death or incapacitation of their child’s primary caregiver.
Currently the U.S. Bureau of Prisons must approve such releases.
The SAFE Justice Act would also require federal correctional staff to attend training seminars.
Procedures would be required on how to use force, de-escalation techniques, detection of and response to prisoners with mental disabilities.
Reform legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate, the report noted.
“Congress should pass the SAFE Justice Act as well as additional reforms to bring federal sentencing in line with principles of proportionality, fairness, and respect for human dignity,” Human Rights Watch said.