Issue Position: Criminal Justice

Issue Position

Our criminal justice system is not just -- laws are applied unequally and unfairly, targeting minorities with disproportionate severity. This must change. In Congress, I've been a leader in calling out these injustices and bringing real reform to our court and prison systems.

It is my strong belief that corporations should not profit from human suffering. This is why I've rejected private prison money in my Senate race and support ending for-profit prisons who've faced countless allegations of abuse against incarcerated individuals.

Creating a more just criminal justice system begins with our courts. We must end the unfair and discriminatory cash bail system that punishes lower-income individuals with prolonged detention before they've had their day in court. We must trust judges to distribute equal and fair verdicts by ending the use of mandatory minimums -- an inherently racist policy.

We must also change our country's approach to marijuana convictions. While violent offenders should be judiciously apprehended, we cannot continue to support a justice system that robs young people of a future because of minor, non-violent marijuana arrests.

My Record on Criminal Justice:

I strongly support legislation from House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler and Sen. Kamala Harris to bar the denial of federal public benefits for marijuana use and says that immigrants cannot be deported or have their citizenship denied solely for a marijuana infraction. This legislation would also decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.
I support legislation to vacate minor marijuana convictions nationwide, which will give young people and minor offenders new opportunities to work and contribute to their communities.
Introduced legislation, along with Sen. Cory Booker, that would remove non-violent marijuana convictions as grounds for deportation for immigrants living legally in the United States.
Was a supporter of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries' bill, the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed, Safely Transitioning Every Person Act, which propels formerly incarcerated individuals toward success, while enacting reforms to improve public safety and reduce recidivism rates. The legislation authorizes $375 million over five years to develop new education, vocational training, and mental health counseling programs.
The FIRST STEP Act also modifies the three strikes law to make it more humane, increases judicial discretion to reduce sentences for low-level, nonviolent drug offenders, and provides retroactive relief for thousands unjustly sentenced during the crack-cocaine era.

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