Justice
For a discussion of Poverty, head to the Working Families page.
Obama Administration renewed its call to end the disparity in sentencing between crack-cocaine offenses and powder-cocaine offenses. Read about it here.
Since my days as assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York I have been committed to fighting injustices. I find it deplorable that America's jails are overcrowded with 2.2 million inmates, which is more than any other country in the world. Some communities have more individuals behind bars than they do on college campuses. As a society, we have an obligation to implement fair criminal justice system that deters Americans from spending their lives behind bars.
For example, we should focus our law enforcement efforts away from drug addicts and small-time dealers onto the big-time drug kingpins who supply them. Currently, blacks make up 12 % the national population, yet account for 40% of all arrests and 50% of the national prison population. Most criminal arrests are drug related felonies. Currently, 26% of inmates are drug offenders with 40 % being black, who have higher arrest rates for crack cocaine sale, use, and/or possession. One of my bills, the Crack-Cocaine Equitable Sentencing Act helps put an end to the disparity in sentencing for cocaine offenses. Law enforcement and even judges on the bench are balking at the 100-to-1 inequity in sentencing that slaps the same 5-year sentence for possessing 5 grams of crack cocaine as is mandated for possessing 500 grams of powder cocaine.
A central tenet of our criminal justice system is rehabilitation. Yet our prison system is a revolving door, leaving many without the ample skill or support necessary to become productive members of society. It's why a staggering majority of state prisoners are released only to find themselves back behind bars at least three years later. An increasing number of formerly incarcerated Americans are without adequate education, physical and mental health, employment, or mentoring services.
We have to continue to work− intelligently and compassionately − to better reintegrate former prisoners into our society. My bill, the Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act will:
- Save taxpayer dollars and bolster public safety
- Invest resources in a consortium of services proven to keep ex-offenders on the right path
- Address the prevalence of substance abuse and poor mental health among ex-offenders
- Strive to strengthen broken families and benefit children
I also believe that rehabilitated individuals who have served time for felonious offenses deserve to have their voices heard in government. In 2009 I introduced the Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act, which aims to grant full voting rights for those who have been convicted of a criminal offense. I will continue to be a strong advocate for sentencing and prison reform as it is vital to be a voice for so many who are silenced.
Accomplishments:
Narcotic Abuse and Control
A leading advocate in Congress for aggressive federal action to fight drug trafficking and increased spending for drug treatment.
Criminal Justice Reform
A leading advocate for fairness in the criminal justice system, Congressman Rangel has fought for revocation of mandatory minimum criminal sentences, equal treatment of crack and powder cocaine offenders, and for expungement of criminal records for first-time non-violent drug offenders.
Congressman Rangel's Legislation:
Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2011, H.R. 2065 (Sponsor)
Status: 7/11/2011 Referred to House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
Amends the federal criminal code to allow an individual to file a petition for expunging of a record of conviction for a nonviolent criminal offense if such individual has:
- Never been convicted of a violent offense and has never been convicted of a nonviolent offense other than the one for which expunging is sought
- Fulfilled all requirements of the sentence of the court in which conviction was obtained
- Remained free from dependency on or abuse of alcohol or a controlled substance for a minimum of one year and has been rehabilitated, to the court's satisfaction, if so required by the terms of supervised release
- Obtained a high school diploma or completed a high school equivalency program
- Completed at least one year of community service
National Blue Alert Act of 2011, H.R. 365 (Co-Sponsor)
Status: 2/7/2011 Referred to House subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
Directs the Attorney General to:
- Establish a national Blue Alert communications network within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to disseminate information when a law enforcement officer is seriously injured or killed in the line of duty
- Assign a DOJ officer to act as the national coordinator of the Blue Alert communications network.
- Set forth the duties of the national coordinator, including encouraging states and local governments to develop additional Blue Alert plans
- Establishing voluntary guidelines for states and local governments to use in developing such plans
- Developing protocols for efforts to apprehend suspects
- Establishing an advisory group to assist states, local governments, law enforcement agencies, and other entities in initiating, facilitating, and promoting Blue Alert plans
Crack-Cocaine Equitable Sentencing Act of 2009, H.R. 2178 (Sponsor)
Status: 6/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to:
- Eliminate specified mandatory minimum penalties relating to the trafficking in, and possession, importation, or distribution of, crack cocaine.
Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act of 2009, H.R. 3576 (Sponsor)
Status: 10/19/2009 Referred to House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility or is on parole or probation for a felony offense.
Authorizes the Attorney General or private individuals to bring civil actions to remedy violations of this Act.
This bill specifies that:
- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act
- This Act would work in conjunction, and shall not supersede, restrict or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993
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