California

Contact:
Tripp Laino, 202-999-4273
tlaino@famm.org

FAMM releases statement on California repealing certain drug-related mandatory minimums

SACRAMENTO – FAMM President Kevin Ring released the following statement after California’s State Legislature passed a bill repealing certain drug-regulated mandatory minimums:

“This is a victory for families, taxpayers and public safety,” Ring said. “California’s mandatory minimums have failed to make the state safer or stem the tide of drug overdoses. Worse yet, they’ve contributed to unwarranted racial disparities and wasted anti-crime resources. The legislature was right to pass this important commonsense reform.”

This bill will repeal mandatory minimums for certain drug offenses while granting judges added discretion through a “safety-valve” provision for others. California’s continued reliance on mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses places it well behind the national curve. States as diverse as New York, Michigan, Louisiana, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Montana, Maryland, and Iowa have repealed mandatory minimum drug laws, and many more have passed reforms granting more discretion to judges or reducing mandatory prison terms.

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies at the state and federal level and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

###

FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.