{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-criminal-justice-reform-legislation-fails-to-address-basic-public-safety-concerns", "Rounds: Criminal Justice Reform Legislation Fails to Address Basic Public Safety Concerns", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding his opposition to the First Step Act, legislation that would reform the federal prison system and modify several federal sentencing provisions \u2013 which may allow certain violent and drug criminals to be eligible for early release:\n\n\u201cI support the intent of criminal justice reform, particularly for nonviolent offenders, but the First Step Act fails to adequately protect South Dakota families from violent criminals who should remain behind bars. We can\u2019t be soft on crime when we\u2019re facing a serious drug epidemic across our state and nation. Without the support of our attorney general and local law enforcement officials \u2013 who will be the ones dealing with dangerous criminals released early from the federal prison system \u2013 I could not in good conscience vote in favor of legislation that poses a threat to public safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cAllowing violent criminals to walk free may reduce federal expense, but it certainly doesn\u2019t make society safer. Reducing recidivism rates for non-violent offenders is a worthy pursuit. However, this legislation does not restrict early release to non-violent only, but unfortunately did not exclude many violent offenders, putting the public at risk.\u201d\n\nSouth Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley: \u201cI recognize the need for prison reform, and I support providing additional tools and flexibility to help certain nonviolent offenders to re-enter our communities as safe and productive citizens. While several versions of the legislation provided these important tools and flexibility which I embrace, I share in the concerns about additional safeguards needed in the final legislation to protect victims and our communities from certain violent criminals and sex offenders and remain hopeful that continued work will strengthen these important protections.\u201d\n\nTypes of crimes that will now be eligible for early release:\n\nbank robbery by force or violence 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 2113(c)\n\ncertain drug-related robbery, even if a person is killed 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 2118(a)\n\nassaulting a law enforcement officer 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 111(a)\n\nassisting federal prisoners with jailbreak 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 752\n\nassault with a dangerous weapon 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 113(a)(3)\n\nassaulting a child or infant 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 113(a)(5)\n\ncoercing a child to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 2422(b)\n\nthreatening to assault, kidnap or murder a federal judge or law enforcement officer 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 115(a)(1)(b)\n\nhate crimes 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 249\n\nconspiracy or attempt to engage in human trafficking 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 1594\n\ntrafficking crystal meth 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 841(b)\n\nracketeering 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 1951\n\nblackmail 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 873\n\nOrganizations Opposed to The First Step Act:\n\nThe National Association of Police Organizations\n\nNational Sheriffs Association\n\nFBI Agents Association\n\nNational Association of Assistant United States Attorneys\n\nMajor County Sheriffs of America\n\nThe Association of Federal Narcotics Agents\n\nThe Criminal Justice Legal Foundation\n\nThe Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association\n\nThe National Narcotics Officers\u2019 Associations\u2019 Coalition and the\n\nMajor Cities Chiefs Association\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-criminal-justice-reform-legislation-fails-to-address-basic-public-safety-concerns"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4549170155078173, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}