Story highlights Sessions' Justice Department has rolled back several Obama-era justice policies

Holder accused Sessions and Trump of prizing ideology over evidence

Washington (CNN) Former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday slammed the Trump administration's approach to crime and called on Congress to impose change.

Holder, speaking at a Washington event for law enforcement supportive of criminal justice reforms -- such as increasing mental health and drug treatment, federal support for community policing and expanding re-entry programs for prisoners -- said the current administration is making the "unwise" decision to move against the trend for reform and to roll back Obama-era Justice Department policies.

"I believe our country is at a crossroads," Holder said. "Will we return to the policies of the past?"

He said the path pursued by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, particularly his decision to direct prosecutors to push for toughest sentences, runs "the risk of igniting" a new drug war and does not effectively fight crime.

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