12-22-2018, 01:32 AM
President Trump signed the criminal justice reform bill into law today.
The new law, spearheaded by Jared Kushner, had rare bipartisan support. It shortens some drug sentences while expanding rehabilitation programs for prisoners.
With the new law, there's a change in how the U.S. punishes offenders. Thousands of well-behaved inmates will be getting early releases, while others will see their sentences reduced. Drug offenders will get treatment.
The U.S. has more citizens in incarceration than any other country in the world and the highest per-capita incarceration rate.
The federal prison system currently holds nearly 181,000 people, and 2.1 million people are in state/local prisons or jails in America. 113 million Americans have spent at least one night incarcerated.
The First Step law signed today covers only federal sentences. Large-scale reform will require change at the state and local level. But, it's undoubtedly a move in the right direction.
Hopefully, the state and local governments will follow the Feds' lead when it comes to sentencing reform and the new federal law will open the door to address/improve other aspects of the U.S.'s criminal justice system on a national level.
Refs:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/advocates-f...ping-bill/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-s...eform-bill
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/...g-overhaul
The new law, spearheaded by Jared Kushner, had rare bipartisan support. It shortens some drug sentences while expanding rehabilitation programs for prisoners.
With the new law, there's a change in how the U.S. punishes offenders. Thousands of well-behaved inmates will be getting early releases, while others will see their sentences reduced. Drug offenders will get treatment.
The U.S. has more citizens in incarceration than any other country in the world and the highest per-capita incarceration rate.
The federal prison system currently holds nearly 181,000 people, and 2.1 million people are in state/local prisons or jails in America. 113 million Americans have spent at least one night incarcerated.
The First Step law signed today covers only federal sentences. Large-scale reform will require change at the state and local level. But, it's undoubtedly a move in the right direction.
Hopefully, the state and local governments will follow the Feds' lead when it comes to sentencing reform and the new federal law will open the door to address/improve other aspects of the U.S.'s criminal justice system on a national level.
Refs:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/advocates-f...ping-bill/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-s...eform-bill
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/...g-overhaul