DOJ Navigates Challenges in Implementing First Step Act Amidst Pandemic Disruptions

During a recent talk at Brooklyn Law School, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche remarked that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Prisons are still acclimating to the implementation of the First Step Act. Blanche, alongside U.S. Senior District Court Judge Frederic Block, discussed the challenges and progress associated with this criminal justice reform bill, which passed in 2018. Observing that it has been six to seven years post-enactment, Blanche highlighted that disruptions like COVID-19 have affected the DOJ’s pace in achieving a steady rhythm with the law’s implementation.