The senior U.S. Senator from Illinois says the nation is locking up too many people for far too long. He hopes to change that soon.
Democrat Dick Durbin has worked with Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa on the sentencing reform and corrections act.
Durbin says the act would ease mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses that don't involve guns, gangs, or violence. He says he believes the U.S. overreacted with the war on drugs and other "get tough on crime" measures.
“We are stacking and warehousing at terrific expense people who can serve their time and get back and be rehabilitated,” Durbin said.
The bill has cleared the Senate judiciary committee. Durbin said he hopes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will now bring it up for a vote. He says the House is considering its own version of the legislation.
