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US Senate passes sweeping criminal justice reform bill | US Senate passes sweeping criminal justice reform bill |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US Senate has passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill seeking to address concerns that the US locks up too many of its citizens. | The US Senate has passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill seeking to address concerns that the US locks up too many of its citizens. |
The First Step Act, which has been championed by US President Donald Trump, passed by a vote of 87-12. | The First Step Act, which has been championed by US President Donald Trump, passed by a vote of 87-12. |
The bipartisan measure found unlikely support from hardline conservatives and progressive liberals alike. | The bipartisan measure found unlikely support from hardline conservatives and progressive liberals alike. |
The US leads the world in number of jailed citizens. Around 2.2m Americans were in jail in 2016, figures show. | The US leads the world in number of jailed citizens. Around 2.2m Americans were in jail in 2016, figures show. |
The bill, which is expected to be debated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, only affected federal prisoners which make up approximately 10% of the total US prison population. | The bill, which is expected to be debated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, only affected federal prisoners which make up approximately 10% of the total US prison population. |
Moments after the vote passed, President Trump tweeted: "America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes." | Moments after the vote passed, President Trump tweeted: "America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes." |
What does the law actually do? | What does the law actually do? |
The bill would overhaul the US justice system by giving more discretion to judges during sentencing, and by strengthening prisoner rehabilitation efforts. | The bill would overhaul the US justice system by giving more discretion to judges during sentencing, and by strengthening prisoner rehabilitation efforts. |
Among the sentencing guidelines being revised is one reducing the "three strikes" penalty for drug felons from life in prison to 25 years. | |
The "three strikes" policy - introduced during the Clinton presidency - mandated strict penalties for those convicted of three serious crimes. | |
The First Step Act also limits the disparity in sentencing guidelines between powder and crack cocaine, which could affect up to 2,600 prisoners, according to the Marshall Project. | |
It allows for more criminals to serve their sentences in halfway houses or under home confinement, and requires offenders to be jailed within 500 miles (800km) of their families. | |
It bans shackling pregnant prisoners and mandates that tampons and sanitary napkins be available to women. | It bans shackling pregnant prisoners and mandates that tampons and sanitary napkins be available to women. |
It reduces the mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug crimes, and authorises $375m (£297m) in federal spending for job training and educational programmes for prisoners. | It reduces the mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug crimes, and authorises $375m (£297m) in federal spending for job training and educational programmes for prisoners. |
New Jersey Democratic Cory Booker hailed the legislation as "one small step [that] will affect thousands and thousands of lives". | |
How did it get this far? | How did it get this far? |
All 49 Democrats in the Senate voted in favour of the bill, with several mentioning that prisons are disproportionally filled with minority groups. | |
Twelve conservative law-and-order Republican senators voted against the bill. | |
Many of the supporters of the First Step Act had also rallied behind the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, which was supported by former President Barack Obama. | Many of the supporters of the First Step Act had also rallied behind the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, which was supported by former President Barack Obama. |
That bill looked set for passage before Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell blocked it, and refused to put it to a vote in the run-up to the 2016 election. | That bill looked set for passage before Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell blocked it, and refused to put it to a vote in the run-up to the 2016 election. |
Earlier this year, White House adviser Jared Kushner began working with Republicans to draft a bill that Mr Trump could sign into law. | |
With Mr Trump's endorsement, the Republican group was able to shore up enough support to bring the bill to a vote. | With Mr Trump's endorsement, the Republican group was able to shore up enough support to bring the bill to a vote. |
"This is the biggest thing," said Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley after the vote was held. | "This is the biggest thing," said Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley after the vote was held. |
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