Justice Dept. seeks to curtail stiff drug sentences

Charlie Savage
The New York Times (US)
Monday, August 12, 2013

holderIn a major shift in criminal justice policy, the Obama administration will move to ease overcrowding in federal prisons by ordering prosecutors to omit listing quantities of illegal substances in indictments for low-level drug cases, sidestepping federal laws that impose strict mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related offenses. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the new policy as one of several steps intended to curb soaring taxpayer spending on prisons and help correct what he regards as unfairness in the justice system, according to his prepared remarks.