While Congress didn’t take up sentencing reform in 2016, we need to keep pressing for justice. This isn’t just a policy — it’s a potential new start for thousands of people locked up with lengthy, unjust sentences.
Last week I was invited to attend an event at the White House to highlight all of the progress we have made to address the ills of our broken criminal justice system. Two stories stayed with me.
A mother talked about being able to hold her son for the first time. It was a moment filled with joy. Tears welled in her eyes as she was quickly broken by the reality that she was holding her son behind bars. She was unable to change his diaper because she was shackled to a bed. She was sitting at the White House sharing her powerful story so that those behind her would also gain their freedom through clemency. So far 1,023 have had their freedom restored through executive clemency.
A judge from Newark, NJ told the story of a young man proudly saying that he was learning fractions and whole numbers, and couldn’t wait to help his son with his homework. He eventually graduated high school and framed his diploma. He could not wait to show his son!
These are the faces and stories of mass incarceration. There is hope in the face of injustice. The roadblocks we face to end this system are simply deferred opportunities to help the thousands of people and families we are advocating for in Congress.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch stated that for every dollar we spend on education in the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) we can save $4-$5 on incarceration. She mentioned three initiatives that are running and therefore not something that a new administration can easily undo.
The BOP will begin setting up schools across the system to help the incarcerated gain education and new skills.
Returning citizens now can access help to obtain a birth certificate or identification to help in applying for a job or a student loan.
New standards to improve “residential reentry centers” or “halfway-houses” are being implemented to help people return to society.
It was disappointing that Congress failed to take up and pass Sentencing Reform. Nevertheless, our champions are still there. We appreciate the tireless efforts of leaders such as Speaker Paul Ryan, Chairman Grassley, Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers, Senators Cornyn, Durbin, Booker, Schumer and others. Congratulations are in order for another leader in our work to end mass incarceration. Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA) will be the new Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee!
We look forward to moving into the new Congress with those real achievements of their support, and the support from many others in Congress gained from nearly 500 meetings on this complicated issue.
We did see a win this week! The 21st Century Cures bill that passed Congress deals with pharmaceutical screening procedures and research on hard-to-treat diseases. It isn’t a criminal justice reform bill, but it was amended to include elements that address the root causes of crime. The amendments included authorization of $1 billion to treat opioid addiction, as well as new mental health reforms to help repair a broken system that far too often criminalizes both.
It means that Congress’ work on criminal justice reform continues. Our work on criminal justice to continue achieving reforms to end mass incarceration will continue as well.
