Attorney General Eric Holder spoke today at the White House Conference on Gang Violence Prevention and Crime Control. At the meeting, AG Holder thanked law enforcement officials for their hard work and cautioned that effective crime prevention requires innovation.
“I believe that, ultimately, we cannot get smart on crime in isolation,” he said. “A rational, data-driven, evidence-based, smart approach to crime – the kind of approach that this Administration is dedicated to pursuing and supporting – must be part of a partnership in public safety. It requires the exchange and evaluation of experiences, and exposure to new ideas.”
In the search for innovation, AG Holder has asked attorneys throughout the Department of Justice to conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based review of federal sentencing and corrections policy. The group is examining the federal sentencing guidelines, the Department’s charging and sentencing advocacy practices, mandatory minimums, crack/powder cocaine sentencing disparities, and other possible racial and ethnic disparities in sentencing. The group is also studying alternatives to incarceration, and strategies that help reduce recidivism when former offenders re-enter society.