Senate Passes Sweeping
Criminal Justice Reform Bill The "First Step Act" passed
Tuesday night with rare
bipartisan support
by a vote of 87-12. It represents some of the
broadest changes to federal
criminal statutes in decades. The bill has the backing
of President Donald Trump. Proponents of the
bill say it will reduce
prison overcrowding, save taxpayer dollars and generally make
the U.S. criminal
justice system fairer. The bill also gives judges
more leeway in sentencing
non-violent drug offenders.