Prosecutors Balk At Sessions’ Harsh Charging Instructions

Earlier this month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed federal prosecutors to “charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense” and follow mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines. Now a bipartisan group of prosecutors is pushing back. Thirty current and former state and local prosecutors sent an open letter saying that Sessions’ move “marks an unnecessary and unfortunate return to past ‘tough on crime’ practices” that will have “significant costs” to the community. Miriam Krinsky, a former federal prosecutor and executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, told the Washington Post that the two sides represent a dichotomy in the criminal justice field. “There are costs that flow from prosecuting and sentencing and incarcerating anyone and everyone who crosses the line of the law,” she said, “and we need to be more selective and smarter in how we promote both the safety and the health of our communities.” Karl Racine, attorney general of the District of Columbia, said Sessions’ move is “a return to the nonsensical days of tough-on-crime rhetoric as opposed to evidence-based policy.” Racine joined 14 other attorneys general this month on a separate letter calling for Sessions to rescind his letter.