Hoyer Statement on the Passage of the Bipartisan FIRST STEP Act
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
May 22, 2018
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the passage of the bipartisan FIRST STEP Act:
“While I am pleased that the House came together to pass Rep. Jeffries’s FIRST STEP Act today, I hope it can truly be seen as just a first step toward legislation that addresses sentencing disparities. America’s prisons ought to be a place where criminals are punished in proportion to their crimes and where they receive the help they need to reform and, after paying their dues, return to society able to contribute.
“Too many are languishing in our prisons on nonviolent charges with little or no hope of seeing freedom for many years or even decades. Racial and economic disparities often influence sentencing decisions, which runs counter to our principle of blind justice. I hope that the resources and reforms included in the FIRST STEP Act will address some of the most serious problems plaguing our prison system, and I will continue working with Rep. Jeffries and others to push for legislation that tackles sentencing disparities, which remain a blemish on our justice system.”
“While I am pleased that the House came together to pass Rep. Jeffries’s FIRST STEP Act today, I hope it can truly be seen as just a first step toward legislation that addresses sentencing disparities. America’s prisons ought to be a place where criminals are punished in proportion to their crimes and where they receive the help they need to reform and, after paying their dues, return to society able to contribute.
“Too many are languishing in our prisons on nonviolent charges with little or no hope of seeing freedom for many years or even decades. Racial and economic disparities often influence sentencing decisions, which runs counter to our principle of blind justice. I hope that the resources and reforms included in the FIRST STEP Act will address some of the most serious problems plaguing our prison system, and I will continue working with Rep. Jeffries and others to push for legislation that tackles sentencing disparities, which remain a blemish on our justice system.”