Posted on 09/22/2015 6:44:51 AM PDT by Kaslin
This summer, President Obama made history by becoming the first sitting president to visit a federal prison. He met with inmates at the Federal Corrections Institute in El Reno (30 miles west of Oklahoma City), listening to their stories and sharing his own. The President was right to visit the prison and to advocate reviewing how Americans view our criminal justice process. Earlier in the week in a speech to the NAACP, he spoke about criminal justice reform and rightly focused on the role of mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes and “three strikes” laws in creating our burgeoning prison population. After noting that locking up violent criminals has indeed caused a decline in violent crime, he pointed out:
“But here’s the thing: Over the last few decades, we’ve also locked up more and more nonviolent drug offenders than ever before, for longer than ever before. And that is the real reason our prison population is so high. In far too many cases, the punishment simply does not fit the crime. If you’re a low-level drug dealer, or you violate your parole, you owe some debt to society. You have to be held accountable and make amends. But you don’t owe 20 years. You don’t owe a life sentence. That's disproportionate to the price that should be paid.”
He also correctly observed that young people face very different consequences for their actions, depending on their race and socioeconomic background. And most honest people would agree that middle and upper class children have a much wider support system to help them bounce back from the sins of their youth.
The original idea behind such strict sentencing practices was to demonstrate that the government was serious about enforcing drug laws with the ultimate goal of dissuading people from participating in the drug trade. But such laws have simply failed to have the intended effect. These measures, which have cost the federal government billions each year (and state and local governments billions more), have not been shown to reduce either drug use or drug trafficking.
Most illegal drugs are extremely cheap to produce; their illegality is what artificially inflates their street value. In this way, harsh drug laws unintentionally fill the coffers of drug kingpins, and even some terrorist groups, all over the world. According to the World Health Organization, while our drug penalties are among the harshest, America’s rates of marijuana and cocaine use are among the highest in the world. It is long past time to revisit and reconsider these laws.
Thankfully, bipartisan momentum is building for criminal justice reform. I’ve already written in support of the REDEEM Act, a bill cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY). The act would greatly reduce the obstacles that nonviolent offenders face upon reentry to society by sealing juvenile records of crimes committed before the age of 15. It would also allow other non-violent offenders (who offended beyond the age of 15) to petition the court to have criminal records sealed. This would remove many barriers to employment and housing, helping those who want to change to rebuild their lives.
The apparent racial disparities in sentencing are not lost on Senator Paul. In a June interview with the Washington Post, Paul explained, “Three out of four people in prison for drugs are black or brown… when you look at polls, white kids use drugs just as much as black and brown kids, but white kids aren't going to jail at nearly the [same] rate.” Paul went on to point out that monetary grants are awarded for achieving particular conviction rates, which incentivizes police departments to look for the easiest convictions. Poorer children are more likely to use drugs outside or in a public place, as opposed to wealthier suburban children who can more easily use drugs in a home. Wealthier children are also much more likely to have parents who will be willing and able to foot the bill for an expensive lawyer to fight any charges brought, making it more expensive for police to pursue the case. Some of the anger and anti-police rhetoric we are seeing around the nation has its roots in a feeling that many younger black and brown citizens are being permanently barred from participation in the American dream because of a criminal record based on youthful indiscretions.
Almost no one is proposing lighter sentences for those convicted of murder, sexual assault or other violent crimes. But individuals who commit crimes as children—crimes which are often no more serious than those committed by their wealthier counterparts—should not be condemned for life.
I am excited to see proposals from leaders from both parties that explore ways to reduce the non-violent prison population, offer a fresh start to young, non-violent offenders and help former inmates have a better shot at a new life. Even as we face the prospect of many of these individuals reentering society, the Church must step up its efforts to help lead the way to personal renewal. I believe we can and will rise to the occasion, offering mentorship programs, vocational training, tutoring and family support. Together, we can prevent another generation from becoming hopelessly marginalized and offer new hope for the future.
“Together, we can prevent another generation from becoming hopelessly marginalized and offer new hope for the future.”
Good Luck with that. Under THIS President, race relations have been set back about 50 years. Seeing as most offenders are minorities, and most Americans are fed UP with it, this is going to be a tough row to hoe!
Yes, I understand the reasons behind crime. You can thank the DEMOCRATS for most of it!
Here’s hoping he can return there for an extended visit.
What would happen (( IF )) Ted Cruz restored Justice to the Justice Department?..
It would send a “ CHILL” through the entire Federal Givernment on down to State Givernment even down to Local Givernment..
A COLD CHILL would run down the backs of most Politicians..
Wondering when would “they” come for HIM / Her.?.
The Crony Capitalists would start acting like they were NOT VAMPIRES... checking their blinds to see if the feds.. were watching their activities.. or monitoring their phone calls and emails.. and preparing to indict THEM for something they did or are doing..
Especially a few of them were escorted to the SLAMMER..
K-Street would burn their records.. and make plans for leaving the country.. to a SAFE Place..
And the Journalists would make a SHARP right turn..
Which would FOOL Nobody.. With a FCC restored to proper FUNCTION..
I can Dream can’t I ..?..
People with recreational drug issues are a burden on society ruining their brains and ability to earn often times just becoming one of the many drug dependent people on the dole.
They deserve little respect and have helped support cartels in places like Mexico, Afghanistan and so forth.
THERE IS ONE REASON QND ONE REASON ALONE THE PRESIDENT AND DEMOCRATS ARE THERE. THEY WANT TO NEGATE THE CRIMINAL BARRIORS TO VOTING AND CREATE A PRISONER CONSTITUENCY.
Yes.
and this is no lie
Rumor is there are outstanding NYC felony warrants for Barry Soetoro.
Just can’t get away from those Chicago and NY shenanigans and secret deals..
An extended visit? I prefer a sentence of at least 150 with no chance of him getting out at all
Oh he was just house hunting for when he leaves my white house...
Along with about 98% of the politicians and media stooges that kept him hid.
Perfect house for him
Ditto for the legal drug alcohol; I don't think that's sufficient reason to bring back Prohibition ... do you?
They deserve little respect
Nobody suggests "respecting" them - just leaving them alone.
and have helped support cartels in places like Mexico, Afghanistan and so forth.
As have the anti-drug laws that make the drug trade so profitable. Ted Cruz says marijuana policy should rest with the states not the feds, and I agree ... do you?
It’s a culture issue. I think a culture of drugs and abuse of alcohol are incompatible with civility, earning and is a cancerous example to the young.
I’m sure there is diminished capacity with drug use over time.
Just say no!
The original idea behind such strict sentencing practices was to demonstrate that the government was serious about enforcing drug laws with the ultimate goal of dissuading people from participating in the drug trade. But such laws have simply failed to have the intended effect. These measures, which have cost the federal government billions each year (and state and local governments billions more), have not been shown to reduce either drug use or drug trafficking.
Most illegal drugs are extremely cheap to produce; their illegality is what artificially inflates their street value. In this way, harsh drug laws unintentionally fill the coffers of drug kingpins, and even some terrorist groups, all over the world. According to the World Health Organization, while our drug penalties are among the harshest, America’s rates of marijuana and cocaine use are among the highest in the world. It is long past time to revisit and reconsider these laws.
Agreed - but criminalization is not the answer when it comes to alcohol or to other drugs.
I’m sure there is diminished capacity with drug use over time.
Beyond a certain threshold - again, as with alcohol.
Just say no!
Yes, it all comes down to individual choices - not futile attemtps to legislate Utopia via drug criminalization.
I missed your answer to this.
[Obama Should Have Been Behind Bars!]
He used to be behind bars until the vice squad found out what he was doing back there.
People can't help stealing, raping, abusing in other ways also. I guess by the pro drug lobby thinking “EVERYBODY WALKS” and we become a soulless and mindless country without any restrictions, self control, self respect or ever again to possess a sense of shame which would be well deserved.
Recreational drug use should be seen as the lifestyle of low class useless losers to be avoided. What drug advocates are doing is affecting future kids who will see the legalization as meaning safe and cool.
The destruction on our kids and future generations with legalized drug use beyond alcohol will be admired by radical Islam for sure. Recreational drug warriors are doing what ISIS have not been able to do so far.
Irresponsible, low class, despicable, diabolical with children coming and just plain evil. Does not go along with a thriving USA and will grossly hurt this country.
Not only have laws and incarcerations failed to fix drug use, they have helped support cartels in places like Mexico and Afghanistan by making the drug trade highly profitable.
This is the decline of our culture.
Since laws and incarcerations have failed to fix drug use, they do nothing about the decline of our culture.
People can't help stealing, raping, abusing in other ways also.
16% of Americans used illegal drugs in 2013 (mostly pot); how many stole or raped?
What drug advocates are doing is affecting future kids who will see the legalization as meaning safe and cool.
Nonsense - kids regard many legal things as not safe nor cool, including (increasingly) using the legal drug tobacco. What criminalization does is give kids easier access to pot than to beer or cigarettes, which is no surprise since criminals never card for age.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.