Sensenbrenner-Scott SAFE Justice Reinvestment Act of 2015

The Sensenbrenner-Scott SAFE Justice Reinvestment Act of 2015 (H.R. 2944) is a bipartisan proposal designed to reduce the size and cost of the federal prison system by focusing resources on violent and high-risk offenders. The bill would limit the use of mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug crimes, reserving them primarily for high-level leaders of trafficking organizations, and would allow judges more flexibility to consider individual circumstances during sentencing.

For citizens, this legislation would expand the use of evidence-based alternatives to prison, such as drug courts and mental health programs, and create "earned time" credits that allow inmates to reduce their sentences by completing rehabilitation programs. Additionally, it aims to improve public safety by implementing more effective supervision for those on probation and parole, using a system of swift and consistent responses to help prevent individuals from returning to crime. Although introduced in 2015, the bill did not become law, but many of its core concepts influenced subsequent criminal justice reforms.