I'm offering $20 billion to states to change their state laws to eliminate minimum mandatories and set up drug courts.
Stated position. What this official has said they believe on this issue — a sourced claim, shown distinctly from any assessment of what they did. It is never scored and never affects the Integrity Score.
Derived from a tracked promise: “I'm offering $20 billion to states to change their state laws to eliminate minimum mandatories and set up drug courts.”
Sources
- Commission on Presidential Debateshttps://www.debates.org/voter-education/debate-transcripts/october-22-2020-debate-transcript/ ↗
“I'm offering $20 billion to states to change their state laws to eliminate minimum mandatories and set up drug courts. There should be no minimum mandatories in the law.”
- The White House (archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/01/fact-sheet-president-bidens-safer-america-plan-2/ ↗
“in order to receive these critical grants, jurisdictions must repeal mandatory minimums for non-violent crimes and change other laws that contribute to increased incarceration rates without making our communities safer”
- The White House, Office of Management and Budget (archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/omb/briefing-room/2023/03/09/fact-sheet-president-bidens-budget-makes-our-communities-safer-and-combats-crime/ ↗
“The Budget also invests $300 million to support the first year of a new ten-year Accelerating Justice System Reform program as part of the President's Safer America Plan, with a total of $14.7 billion in mandatory funding requested”
- Justice Action Network (Biden's questionnaire response)https://www.justiceactionnetwork.org/joe-biden ↗
“I will expand the Justice Department's use of pattern-or-practice investigations and consent decrees to address unlawful policing.”
- City of Minneapolis (official)https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/police-public-safety/investigations-settlement-agreement/consent-decree/ ↗
“On Jan. 6, 2025, the City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey approved the terms of a court-enforceable consent decree.”
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/justice-department-minneapolis-louisville-police-departments/ ↗
“The Trump administration also said it is closing investigations into police departments in Phoenix; Trenton, New Jersey; Memphis; Mount Vernon, New York; Oklahoma City and the Louisiana State Police.”
- Office of Sen. Cory Booker (senate.gov)https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-durbin-armstrong-jeffries-announce-re-introduction-of-bipartisan-legislation-to-eliminate-federal-crack-and-powder-cocaine-sentencing-disparity ↗
“In September 2021, the legislation passed the House with a wide bipartisan margin, 361-66.”
- The White House (Archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/17/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-additional-clemency-actions/ ↗
“Today's clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine”
- The White House (Archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/12/22/a-proclamation-on-granting-pardon-for-the-offense-of-simple-possession-of-marijuana-attempted-simple-possession-of-marijuana-or-use-of-marijuana/ ↗
“committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana”
- The White House (Archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/10/06/granting-pardon-for-the-offense-of-simple-possession-of-marijuana/ ↗
“I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to (1) all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who committed the offense of simple possession of marijuana”
- Marijuana Momenthttps://www.marijuanamoment.net/joe-biden-includes-marijuana-decriminalization-in-new-plan-for-black-america/ ↗
“decriminalize the use of cannabis and automatically expunge all prior cannabis use convictions”
“I promise you there will be a national commission on policing out of the White House where I'll bring everyone to the table, including police chiefs, including civil rights activists, including the NAACP, including the African, the Latino community.”
“Expand and use the power of the U.S. Justice Department to address systemic misconduct in police departments and prosecutors' offices.”
- The White House (archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/07/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administrations-work-to-make-our-communities-safer-and-advance-effective-accountable-policing/ ↗
“In just two years, the Department of Justice has opened eight pattern-or-practice investigations of law enforcement agencies for systemic misconduct and rescinded a Trump-era memo that inhibited the use of consent decrees”
“Biden will lead a national effort to end cash bail and reform our pretrial system ... As President, Biden will establish a technical assistance program to help state and local jurisdictions transition to a fair, equitable and effective pretrial system that does not rely on cash bail.”
“Because we cannot ensure we get death penalty cases right every time, Biden will work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level ... These individuals should instead serve life sentences without probation or parole.”
“President Biden used his clemency authority Monday to commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row to life without parole”
- The White House (Biden administration archives)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/23/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-federal-death-row-commutations/ ↗
“Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole.”
“Biden will end the federal government's use of private prisons and detention centers, building off an Obama-Biden Administration's policy rescinded by the Trump Administration. And, he will make clear that the federal government should not use private facilities for any detention, including detention of undocumented immigrants.”
“Biden supports an end to mandatory minimums. As president, he will work for the passage of legislation to repeal mandatory minimums at the federal level. And, he will give states incentives to repeal their mandatory minimums.”
“I think we're at a point where we're saying mere lip service isn't enough”
“A bill to address the issue died in the Senate.”
- Federal Register (govinfo.gov)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-01-29/html/2021-02070.htm ↗
“The Attorney General shall not renew Department of Justice contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities, as consistent with applicable law.”
- Federal Bureau of Prisonshttps://www.bop.gov/news/20221201_ends_use_of_privately_owned_prisons.jsp ↗
“The contract with the last private prison, McRae Correctional Facility, located in McRae, Georgia, ended on November 30, 2022.”
“Expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, as well as educational opportunities and job training for individuals during and after incarceration. Biden will eliminate barriers keeping formerly incarcerated individuals from accessing public assistance such as SNAP, Pell grants, and housing support.”
- Federal Register (govinfo.gov)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-10-28/html/2022-23078.htm ↗
“implement statutory changes that extend Pell Grant eligibility to confined or incarcerated individuals who enroll in qualifying PEPs”
- White House (archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/26/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-expands-second-chance-opportunities-for-formerly-incarcerated-persons/ ↗
“provide job skills training and individualized employment and reentry plans for people incarcerated in Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities”
“The Biden Administration will incentivize states to automatically restore voting rights for individuals convicted of felonies once they have served their sentences.”
- U.S. Senate roll call vote recordhttps://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00009.htm ↗
“Cloture Motion Rejected”
- Federal Register (govinfo.gov)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-03-10/html/2021-05087.htm ↗
“notify individuals leaving Federal custody of the restrictions, if any, on their ability to vote under the laws of the State where the individual resides”
“ending the practice of solitary confinement, with very limited exceptions such as protecting the life of an imprisoned person.”
- The White House (Archived)https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/05/25/executive-order-on-advancing-effective-accountable-policing-and-criminal-justice-practices-to-enhance-public-trust-and-public-safety/ ↗
“ensure that restrictive housing in Federal detention facilities is used rarely, applied fairly, and subject to reasonable constraints”
- U.S. Government Accountability Officehttps://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-105737 ↗
“The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has not fully implemented 54 of the 87 recommendations from two prior studies on improving restrictive housing practices.”
- National Low Income Housing Coalitionhttps://nlihc.org/resource/former-vice-president-biden-calls-goal-housing-all-formerly-incarcerated-individuals ↗
“ensuring 100% of formerly incarcerated individuals – at the federal and state level – have housing upon release.”
“HUD will take steps to implement changes in its regulations and guidance to reduce barriers to HUD programs to ensure that applicants with criminal history records are fairly screened at admission”
- U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessnesshttps://www.usich.gov/news-events/news/hud-proposes-rule-reduce-housing-barriers-people-criminal-records ↗
“having a criminal record would not automatically or categorically deny access to or terminate someone from HUD-assisted housing”
“Biden will reinvigorate the COPS program with a $300 million investment.”
- U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Officehttps://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/fy24copsbudgetfactsheet.pdf ↗
“Total COPS Office Appropriation $662.88 million $651 million”
- Congressional Research Service (IF10922, May 9, 2024)https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/IF10922.html ↗
“Funding for the COPS program has increased in the last seven fiscal years, from $208 million for FY2015 to $685 million for FY2024.”