Thread by @Abt_Thomas

1/ Sessions put his reasons for DOJ’s sentencing policy in print, so now we can show just how wrong he is. Read on.
washingtonpost.com/opinions/jeff-…

2/ “Drug trafficking is inherently violent.” Yes & no. Violence accompanies any illegal activity, but drug dealing much less violent today.

3/ In 1980s & 90s, the crack trade was notoriously dangerous, and experts agree it drove much of the violence and crime back then.

4/ Today, we have heroin & opioids, which cause huge amounts of death & suffering from overdoses, but are NOT associated with much violence.

5/“Before [Holder's] change, violent crime rate had fallen…[after] the trend reversed.” This argument isn't just dead wrong, it's dishonest.

6/ Sessions says Holder memo, e.g. lighter federal drug sentencing, is responsible for increase in violent crime. Not so, for a few reasons.

7/ As said before, there's little connection today between drugs & violence. Also, the link between federal charges & local crime is weak...

8/ …since 90% of crime is prosecuted at the state & local levels. The association between longer sentences & lower crime is also dubious...

9/ …because the evidence shows that swiftness & certainty of punishment matter much more.

10/ “Truth is that while the federal government softened, drug abuse and violent crime surged.” This is NOT the truth. In reality…

11/ …surge in abuse began b/f Holder memo & surge in violence is unrelated – no one serious has cited fed policy as reason for murder spike.

12/ To combat opioids, we need targeted enforcement, but we really need more prevention; more a public health than public safety challenge.

13/ Trump and Sessions are crime dinosaurs, trying to revive old arguments and strategies that went extinct years old. Don’t be fooled.