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John Edwards on Crime and Punishment
This candidate has withdrawn from the election
"Those men who dragged James Byrd behind that truck in Texas -- they deserve the death penalty. And I think there are some crimes that deserve the ultimate penalty,"
Democratic 2004 primary debate at USC Feb 26, 2004
"Q: What about this case that means the United States nearly executed over 100 people who didn't do it. EDWARDS: Very serious issue, and it means we need to take lots of serious steps to deal with it, which means using DNA testing. It means making all of the most modern technologies available. It means making the court system work, not just for those who can hire the best lawyers money can buy, but for folks who have to have indigent counsel. I've seen what happens in court rooms. I know how important it is to have a lawyer representing an indigent defendant who knows what they're doing."
Democratic 2004 primary debate at USC Feb 26, 2004
Edwards sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act: Title: To provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes. 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. 1. Award grants to assist State and local law enforcement officials with extraordinary expenses for interstate hate crimes. 2. Award grants to State and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. 3. Prohibit specified offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. 4. Increase criminal sentencing for adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes. 5. Collect and publish data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on gender.
House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR1343 on Apr 3, 2001
"Every American deserves the right to live without fear of physical violence -- law enforcement should have all the resources and tools it needs to protect every community in America. I have long supported strengthening our hate crimes laws to show that Americans will not tolerate or condone hateful violence of any kind. "With 25 hate crimes committed every day by the FBI's count -- one every hour -- it is embarrassing that the White House says stronger law enforcement tools are 'unnecessary.' Nine years after the heinous murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., these tools are more necessary than ever."
"Changing mandatory minimum, changing the disparity between crack and powder cocaine--those things are correct. But can we also create an infrastructure for success for those who are charged and convicted for the first time, so that we help them."
2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007
"I support keeping drugs out of the United States and vigorous prosecution of drug sales. I also support greater funding for drug treatment and alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders such as drug courts."
2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test Mar 3, 2004
Improve Drug Sentencing: Today, a drug user with the same amount of cocaine is punished very differently depending on the type of cocaine - for crack cocaine the penalty is 100 times greater than for powder cocaine. This disparity is not justified.
Campaign website, JohnEdwards.com, "Real Solutions" Jan 1, 2004
Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses
Bill S.625 ; vote number 1999-360 on Nov 10, 1999
I support greater emphasis on drug treatment and elimination of mandatory minimums for certain non-violent crimes. I also support reform of our probation and parole systems to provide more support and supervision.
2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test Mar 3, 2004
"Changing mandatory minimum, changing the disparity between crack and powdered cocaine, having a system that's fair. If you're African American, you're more likely to be charged with a crime. If you're charged with a crime, you're more likely to be convicted of the crime. If you're convicted of the crime, you're more likely to get a severe sentence. There is no question that our justice system is not colorblind, but can we also create an infrastructure for success for those who are charged and convicted for the first time so that we help them with drug counseling, job counseling, job training, education? Help them get back into the community with some chance of changing their lives."
I support greater emphasis on drug treatment and elimination of mandatory minimums for certain non-violent crimes. I also support reform of our probation and parole systems to provide more support and supervision.
2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test Mar 3, 2004
"Changing mandatory minimum, changing the disparity between crack and powdered cocaine, having a system that's fair. If you're African American, you're more likely to be charged with a crime. If you're charged with a crime, you're more likely to be convicted of the crime. If you're convicted of the crime, you're more likely to get a severe sentence. There is no question that our justice system is not colorblind, but can we also create an infrastructure for success for those who are charged and convicted for the first time so that we help them with drug counseling, job counseling, job training, education? Help them get back into the community with some chance of changing their lives."