Pubdate: Sat, 13 May 2017
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2017 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Greg Bluestein

GEORGIA, FEDS DIVERGE ON POLICY FOR SENTENCING

Even as Gov. Nathan Deal was signing the latest batch of state laws
designed to keep lower-level offenders out of prison, the Trump
administration was preparing a crackdown seeking the toughest possible
charges against offenders convicted of nonviolent drug violations.

The U.S. Justice Department released directives Friday that call for
more mandatory minimum sentences and direct prosecutors to pursue the
strictest punishments available. It was a sweeping shift in criminal
justice policy, reversing Obama-era policies to reduce penalties for
some nonviolent offenses.

"It is a core principle that prosecutors should charge and pursue the
most serious, readily provable offense," U.S. Attorney General Jeff
Sessions wrote in a memo to prosecutors, though he added there are
some cases "in which good judgment" could lead authorities to stray
from that policy.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt