The federal prison population is on the decline, but a new attorney general who talks tough on drugs and crime and already has indicated a looming need for private prison cells seems poised to usher in a reversal of that trend. The federal prison population now stands at just under 190,000, down from nearly 220,000 in 2013. They said last year that that while the number of drug prosecutions had fallen, the cases prosecutors were pursuing involved more serious crimes. Sessions hasn't made policy pronouncements on drug prosecutions in his two weeks on the job. Tougher enforcement of drug laws could be welcomed by some law enforcement officials, including Justice Department prosecutors who felt hamstrung in recent years in their ability to seek long sentences.

Source: ABC News February 26, 2017 13:18 UTC