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Joe Biden
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Sponsored the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994 (aka the Clinton Crime Bill), which brought the death penalty for crimes related to drug dealing, civil-rights related murders, murder of a Federal officer, and acts classified as terrorism.
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 , H.R.3355
Voted NO on limiting death penalty appeals. Vote to table, or kill, a motion to send the bill back to the joint House-Senate conference committee with instructions to delete the provisions in the bill that would make it harder for prisoners given the death penalty in state courts to appeal.
Bill S.735 ; vote number 1996-66 on Apr 17, 1996
Biden sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act: Summary: Provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any violent crime that is motivated by prejudice based on the race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim or is a violation of hate crime laws.
House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR1343 on Apr 3, 2001
Voted NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. Vote on the motion to instruct conferees on the bill to insist that the conference report include Mandatory prison terms for the use, possession, or carrying of a firearm or destructive device during a state crime of violence or drug trafficking
Bill HR.3355 ; vote number 1994-126 on May 19, 1994
Mr. Biden and Mr. Coverdell said the PRIDE findings confirm the need for more after-school programs, where teens can be supervised, mentored or engaged in worthwhile activities until their parents can care for them.
Washington Times June 18, 1998
Joe Biden has worked to increase penalties for dealing drugs within 1,000 feet of schools, created the Drug Czar office in the White House, and was an important voice in classifying steroids as drugs and has worked to keep them out of the hands of students.
Campaign website, www.joebiden.com, "Issues" Sep 1, 2007
We need diversion out of the system. I'm the guy that wrote the drug court legislation that is in the law right now...300,000 will come out addicted from the prison this year
2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007
You have to eliminate the disparity between crack & powdered cocaine. I've introduced legislation to do that.
2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007
Vote NO to increase penalties on certain drug-related crimes. The amendment would specifically target the manufacturing or trafficking of amphetamines & methamphetamines and possession of powder cocaine, and set stronger penalties for dealing drugs
Bill S.625 ; vote number 1999-360 on Nov 10, 1999
Voted YES in 1990 to impose minimum, mandatory prison sentences for firearm violations, other violent crimes, and drug crimes.
Sponsored by Sen. Joseph R. Biden (D-Del.), S. 1711 would eliminate sentencing differences between crack and powder cocaine in favor of a single mandatory minimum at the current powder cocaine levels and eliminate the five-year mandatory minimum for simple possession of crack cocaine. The bill would also authorize drug treatment and enforcement funds and increase fines for kingpins. S. 1711 directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review the sentencing guidelines and if appropriate, amend them to account for culpability and role in the offense. The bill has two co-sponsors.
S. 1711: Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007
"You have to eliminate the disparity between powder and crack cocaine."
"We need diversion out of the system [drug penalty system]. I'm the guy that wrote wrote the drug court legislation that is in the law right now."
Biden Co-sponsored the "Second Chance Act of 2007", which was introduced by a bi-partisan group of Representatives during the summer and attempted to address some of the many issues facing the nearly 650,000 people released from jails and prisons nationwide each year. The main areas of focus within the bill were jobs, housing, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and strengthening families.
The harsh reality is that inmates released without treatment are far more likely to get back on drugs and become repeat offenders than those who completed treatment programs while incarcerated. Recognizing this, Biden said: "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that treatment works. In Delaware we have programs like Key-Crest that have proven to be very successful in keeping inmates and former inmates drug-free, and reducing the occurrence of repeat offenses. This funding will allow those programs to continue and expand - treating the problem the smart way." Senator Biden has also been a strong proponent for helping prison inmates treat their addiction problems. "Recent studies show that nearly 80% of the inmates in Delaware prisons had a substance abuse problem when they were sent there, no doubt playing a part in the crimes they committed," said Biden. "If inmates serve their time and leave prison without being treated for that addiction, we have addressed the symptom, but completely ignored the problem."
A strong advocate of treating addiction and helping substance abusers kick their habits, Senator Biden also helped author the Drug Addiction Treatment Act, a bill to expand access to drug treatment by allowing qualified doctors to prescribe certain anti-addiction medications from their offices rather than special treatment clinics. To help prevent overcrowding in our nation's prisons and prevent non-violent, first-time offenders from being locked up, Senator Biden helped create Drug Courts as part of his landmark 1994 Biden Crime Law. Drug Court defendants are placed in an intensive, outpatient treatment program that includes counseling sessions, regular court appearances and frequent drug testing. If a defendant fails to comply with the terms of the sentence or tests positive for drugs, the judge will impose increased punishment, including jail time. According to the Department of Justice, drug courts save at least $5,000 per offender each year in prison costs alone.