Sessions has worked tirelessly to address racial disparities in drug crime sentencing and has advocated for victim’s rights
January 10, 2017
FACT CHECK: Sessions Has Fought For A Fairer Criminal Justice System
As a U.S. Senator, Sessions worked alongside the Congressional Black Caucus for a decade to pass the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which addressed racial disparities in drug crime sentencing. The leadership conference called Sessions a “longtime supporter of eliminating sentencing disparities,” and in 2010, President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act into law.
Sessions said the sentencing between crack cocaine and powder cocaine was not justifiable and reform would make the criminal justice system more effective and fair. According to a U.S. Sentencing Commission study, the Fair Sentencing Act reduced the disparity between crack and cocaine sentences, reduced federal prison population, and may have resulted in fewer crack cocaine prosecutions.
Sessions has been a champion for victims’ rights and supported numerous pieces of legislation, which give victims a voice. In 1996, Sessions advocated for the Victims’ Rights Amendment and voted to amend the constitution to give rights to crime victims. Sessions joined a Senate Judiciary Committee Report on the amendment, which stated it was time to recognize the innocent victims of crime, too often forgotten by our criminal justice system.