Law Enforcement Officials Push for Lower Incarceration Rates

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago police spokesman says top law enforcement officials from around the country are set to announce their involvement in a new push to lower incarceration rates.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed details about the coalition of more than 100 officials and its agenda to The Associated Press early Wednesday. News of the effort was first reported by The New York Times.

Guglielmi says the group, called Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration, will push for re-evaluating sentences for nonviolent offenses, among other things. He says members plan to meet Thursday with President Barack Obama.

Guglielmi says Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy will be a co-chairman of the group that will include leaders of many of the nation’s largest police forces. Officials at other departments had no immediate comment or couldn’t immediately be reached.

A formal announcement is planned Wednesday afternoon in Washington, D.C.