Attorneys General Support Federal Prison Reform

Washington, D.C. — NAAG sent a letter to House and Senate leadership today, announcing support for the FIRST STEP Act.

“As our jurisdictions’ Attorneys General, public safety and the faithful execution of the law fall squarely on our shoulders. Constituents hold us uniquely accountable for ensuring our communities provide a safe place to work and raise a family. To that end, we have supported legislation that strongly punishes criminal conduct while making sure people exiting prison pose less of a threat than when they entered,” reads the letter signed by 38 jurisdictional attorneys general.

The FIRST STEP Act would strengthen the criminal justice system by enacting prison reforms, such as providing additional tools and flexibility to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, ensuring people are prepared for re-entering communities after leaving prison, and allowing prosecutors to seek the most appropriate sentence for each individual.

The letter concludes, “On a bipartisan basis, we request that Congress enact legislation to strengthen our criminal justice system to better safeguard the people of our states. We believe the FIRST STEP Act contains many helpful reforms and strongly encourage Congress to provide the bill with a full and open debate.”

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