Clinton proposing criminal justice system reforms
BOSTON -- Hillary Clinton will roll out two proposals to reform the criminal justice system Friday in Atlanta, where she is set to launch "African Americans for Hillary" with two campaign events.
According to a campaign aide, Clinton will first propose setting equal sentencing rules for crack and powder cocaine offenses.
Under the Fair Sentencing Act, passed in 2010, the amounts of crack cocaine and powder cocaine that trigger the same mandatory minimum sentences are very different. According to the Justice Department, an offender trafficking 18 times as much powder cocaine as one trafficking crack cocaine would receive the same five- and 10-year mandatory minimum prison terms.
Clinton will say Friday the disparity is based on faulty assumptions about cocaine, and disproportionately affects the African American community.
Second, Clinton will say that, as president, she would support legislation to ban racial profiling by law enforcement officials at the federal, state and local levels.
Clinton laid out her broad agenda for criminal justice reform in one of the first major speeches of her campaign, in April at Columbia University in New York, where she promised to "end the era of mass incarceration." In her remarks, Clinton also called for nationwide use of body cameras by police departments.
She is often asked about her proposals on the campaign trail.
On Thursday, while campaigning in New Hampshire, Clinton said she wants to "revisit" sentencing rules for low-level offenders and offenders who face addiction.
"We need to figure out how to have more diversionary programs for those who deserve it," Clinton said, "and we have to have more supportive services."
Clinton will make additional criminal justice system reform proposals in coming days, according to the aide.