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Article: Mandatory sentencing frustrated.(COMMENTARY)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- January 18, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Washington Times LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Bruce Fein, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Mandatory sentencing slashes crime. The multiple decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court in United States vs. Booker (Jan. 12, 2005) obtusely upended mandatory Federal Sentencing Guidelines in the name of honoring both the Sixth Amendment right to jury trial and congressional intent in enacting the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (SRA).
Congress should race to restore federal mandatory sentences, but with juries finding facts that would determine the severity of punishment.
Career criminals commit the bulk of offenses. Their incarceration forecloses new crimes. Mandatory sentencing also captures ...