Myth One: Our prison population is exploding because of the incarceration of recreational drug users or low-level drug offenders.

Fact: Our federal prison population is not exploding, and those who are serving prison sentences for drug crimes are incarcerated because of drug trafficking crimes, not recreational drug use.


Myth Two: The federal prison population is a product of mandatory minimum sentences for drug traffickers.

Fact: The majority of drug traffickers sentenced in federal court are not being sentenced pursuant to mandatory minimum sentences.


Myth Three: Only violent drug dealers deserve lengthy prison sentences.

Fact: It is well-established drug trafficking is inherently violent and that all drug dealing is dangerous taking the lives of thousands of Americans, destroying families, and undermining the moral fabric of our communities, regardless of whether any individual offender engages in an act of violence during the commission of a drug offense.


Myth Four: Federal mandatory minimum sentences are arbitrary; their reduction will result in greater fairness and do little to disturb public safety.

Fact: Slashing federal mandatory minimum sentences will undermine the ability of law enforcement officials to dismantle drug trafficking organizations.


Myth Five: Minimum sentences for drug dealers should be reduced because drug sentences have a disparate impact on minorities.

Fact: High-level drug trafficking is not committed by any group that mirrors the nation's demographics in terms of age, gender, or race and prosecutions can't be expected to parallel those demographics.


Myth Six: Reducing the sentences for drug dealers will reduce our taxes.

Fact: It's easier to quantify the costs of incarceration than the value of public safety.