Booker is the author of the 2018 First Step Act, which aims to reduce federal mass incarceration by reducing and restricting enhanced sentences for prior drug felonies, and through evidence-based treatment for opioid and heroin use. This was signed into law by President Trump.
In March 2019, Booker introduced the Next Step Act, which includes a number of criminal justice reforms, including reducing mandatory sentences for non-violent drug offenses, banning racial and religious profiling, removing questions regarding conviction histories from job and other applications, and expunging records for marijuana-related charges.
Booker would eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.
Booker pledges to reinvest in the communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs.
Booker would expand training for law enforcement officers on implicit racial bias, de-escalation and use-of-force.
Booker would decriminalize marijuana and expunge records for marijuana-related charges
Booker would extend clemency to individuals serving excessive sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
Booker would end mandatory minimums for nonviolent drug offenses.
Booker supports removing questions regarding conviction histories from job and other applications.
Booker would prohibit racial and religious profiling and improve the reporting of police use-of-force incidents.
Booker would “absolutely” consider mass pardons or commutations for federal marijuana offenses.
“You can tell a lot about a country by who it incarcerates. Some countries imprison journalists. Others imprison political opponents. We imprison the poor, the addicted, the mentally ill, the survivors of abuse and sexual assault, and black and brown people. Our broken criminal justice system is a cancer on the soul of our nation that preys upon our most marginalized populations. It’s time we developed a cure.”
Cory Booker: It’s time for the next step in criminal justice reform
The Washington Post, March 10, 2019 | Cory Booker
Read More
Cory Booker is running for president in 2020. Here’s everything we know about the candidate and how he stacks up against the competition.
Business Insider, September 13, 2019 | John Haltiwanger and Joseph Zeballos-Roig
Criminal Justice
Cory Booker campaign website, 2019
Cory Booker takes the lead on criminal justice reform in 2020 campaign with new bill
CNBC, March 7, 2019 | Carmin Chappell
Cory Booker: It’s time for the next step in criminal justice reform
The Washington Post, March 10, 2019 | Cory Booker
Booker showcases pragmatic side in town hall
Politico, March 28, 2019 | Nolan D. McCaskill
