Recently, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Obama Administration will no longer be enforcing the standing rules on mandatory-minimum sentencing for drug offenders. Host Tim Hansel discussed what this could mean for our justice system with Molly Gill from Families Against Mandatory Minimums and former Wisconsin assistant attorney general Tim Kiefer on Wednesday August 21st.
Gill and Kiefer explained the specific minimum sentences depending on the crime that was committed and how it affects our criminal justice system as a whole. Gill discussed how mandatory minimums don’t allow a case-by-case judgement, while Kiefer gave an overview of how mandatory minimums were created. Lastly, Hansel and Kiefer wrapped up the show by discussed alternative methods to help eliminate this serious issue.
Adam Klasfeld, a reporter from Courthouse News Service and a previous guest on A Public Affair, joined the show shortly to give us an update on Bradley Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison this Wednesday, August 21st. Manning plans to seek a pardon from President Obama for this sentence. Klasfeld and Hansel discussed what we should take away from the trial.