Booker, Durbin Reintroduce Legislation Aimed at Increasing Membership within the U.S. Sentencing Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced the Sentencing Commission Improvements Act, legislation that would add a nonvoting member with a public defender background to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. This addition would bring a critical perspective from those who represent people accused of crimes and have hands-on experience navigating the criminal justice system, ensuring federal sentencing policies are grounded in real-world experiences.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission, an independent agency within the federal judiciary, was created to establish policies and practices to help reduce sentencing disparities. It specifically collects and analyzes information on federal sentencing practices to help develop fairer and more effective criminal justice policies.

Currently, the Commission consists of seven members from both political parties appointed by the President and two ex officio, nonvoting members, the Attorney General or a designee and the U.S. Parole Commission chair. However, unlike most state sentencing commissions, the federal Commission lacks a representative from a public defender background who would provide an essential perspective on the criminal justice system"Public defenders are on the frontlines, witnessing firsthand how sentencing policies impact low-income communities and communities of color, and can offer critical insight into issues like overcharging, plea pressure, and unequal access to resources," said Senator Booker. "Adding a public defender to the Commission will help fill this blind spot and help ensure sentencing practices move toward a fairer, more balanced, and truly just system."

"While tasked with establishing fair policies that reduce disparities in sentencing, the U.S. Sentencing Commission is missing a crucial perspective from the federal public defender system. It's time we balanced the Commission's membership by adding a nonvoting federal defender," said Senator Durbin. "The Sentencing Commission Improvements Act will remedy the Commission's blind spot and move us toward a fairer sentencing process."