WASHINGTON — After weeks of delays, a major piece of criminal justice reform legislation is moving forward in the Senate. The First Step Act has broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill and the backing of the White House, but some influential law enforcement groups are still on the fence.

5 FAST FACTS ON THE FIRST STEP ACT:

  1. The bill would give judges more discretion on mandatory minimum sentences.​
  2. It would reform sentencing guidelines for non violent crimes.
  3. Supporters believe it will reduce recidivism, when a criminal becomes a repeat offender.
  4. The bill works to place prisoners no more than 500 miles from their families.
  5. Only 181,000 of the more than 2.1 million people in prisons and jails are incarcerated on the federal level. This means only 8 percent of inmates will be impacted by the bill's passage.​

The First Step Act would reform sentencing guidelines for non-violent crimes, and prepare inmates to return to society. Its backers say it would also cut back on repeat offenders.

“It’s all about leaving people with their dignity and respect,” said Rep. Val Demings, D-Orlando.

Demings, who served as the chief of the Orlando Police Dept., has seen firsthand why the overhaul is needed.

“It really levels the playing field in terms of sentencing. It gives judges more discretion, and I think that’s always a benefit,” Demings explained.

Law Enforcement Reservations

The legislation has driven a rift through law enforcement groups, as well as Senate Republicans.

“We want to get to yes, we want to be able to support the bill,” said Jonathan Thompson, executive director and CEO of the National Sheriffs’ Association.

Thompson still has some concerns when it comes to how the legislation addresses gun crimes, drug dealers, and sex offenders, among other issues.

“That’s our worry — are we letting the wrong people out, are we letting them out too early, and are we not giving them the tools to succeed as they do come out of federal prison?” Thompson said.

“These are matters for law enforcement and sheriffs in particular, they have to confront these issues every single day,” he said.

White House Support

Ja’Ron Smith, the president’s point person on criminal justice, said the law enforcement community has been deeply involved in negotiations.

“Law enforcement has been an integral part of the reforms that we have put into this legislation,” Smith said.

The bill, which appeared all but dead last week, is now on a fast track to completion, if it can survive an uncertain amendment process. The reversal, in part, is due to mounting pressure from the president and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

“The president’s leadership is what led us to actually moving legislation from the House and now to the Senate floor,” Smith said.

The Senate will need 60 votes to pass the bill. The version from the Senate would then need to pass again in the House, which has already approved a more limited version.

“We can do some amazing things if we have the political will to get it done,” Demings said.