“The Justice Department is hailing new statistics showing federal prosecutors pursuing fewer but more serious drug cases as evidence that criminal justice reforms the Obama administration set in motion several years ago are bearing fruit.
“‘We are really gratified with the results,’ Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates told reporters Monday. “We are bringing fewer but more impactful cases against more serious defendants.’
“New statistics show federal drug prosecutions down 6 percent in Fiscal Year 2015 after a 14 percent drop since the beginning of the so-called ‘Smart on Crime’ initiative launched by former Attorney General Eric Holder. Since 2012, the percentage of federal drug defendants accused of using a weapon rose from 15 percent to 17 percent and the percentage with a leadership or organizing role went from 6.6 percent to 7.8 percent.”