Posted on 07/25/2015 4:26:19 AM PDT by Kaslin
House Speaker John Boehner’s statement last Thursday calling for criminal justice reform was a welcome cap to a week of bipartisan and inter-branch voices calling for reform of our federal prison system. The Speaker is the latest in a long list of conservatives championing an approach to sentencing and corrections policymaking that is not just “tough on crime” but Right on Crime.
In just one week, the Speaker announced that he supports criminal justice reform moving forward in the House of Representatives, The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a two-day hearing on federal criminal justice reform, and Barack Obama became the first President in modern history to tour a federal prison.
The President gave passing credit to the states for leading the charge on criminal justice reform, but this credit should not go understated. Over the last decade, states like Texas, Utah, Georgia, and my home state of Ohio have been leaders in criminal justice reform, embracing policies that focus prison beds on serious and violent offenders. The results of these initiatives are staggering: lower costs for taxpayers alongside declining rates of incarceration, recidivism, arrest, and crime rates have continued to fall to decade lows.
As we saw in many states, political leaders from the left and right joined together to enact reform that reduced crime, lowered costs, and kept families intact. The President has consistently spoken about the left and the right coming together to stop the gridlock in Washington but has surprisingly not been outspoken on such a major political topic that crosses political lines until the 7th year of his presidency.
Although dragging behind, the federal government could soon be getting much needed criminal justice reform. Representative Jim Sensenbrenner, a Republican from Wisconsin, and Representative Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia have proposed the “SAFE Justice Act,” a bipartisan and broad-based criminal justice reform bill that will address a litany of issues that have support from both sides of the aisle. In addition to Speaker Boehner’s support for the bill, it currently has the support of more than 30 cosponsors. The SAFE Justice Act focuses incarceration on violent and high-level criminals, while expanding diversionary programs, such as drug courts for lower-level offenders. By placing an emphasis on alternatives to incarceration for lower-level offenders, the federal criminal justice system can save millions in taxpayer dollars, while reducing recidivism and making our neighborhoods safer.
This week, I had the honor of attending a bipartisan summit on Fair Justice in Washington, D.C. The summit focused on discussing solutions to the federal criminal justice system. Many prominent leaders from both parties were in attendance, including Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Rand Paul, and Representative Bob Goodlatte. Speaking on behalf of the “SAFE Justice Act” were the authors, Representative Sensenbrenner and Representative Scott, who received support from both the Republican and Democrat attendees for their reform efforts.
Normally, a “don’t hold your breath” mentality should be taken with any major comprehensive reform the federal government attempts to tackles. However, no issue has had the broad-based support and the robust research base to back it up such as the “SAFE Justice Act.” Act. It is time to seize this bipartisan momentum and get criminal justice reform to the President’s desk in the near future.
Boehner speaking is like a fart happening. Both have no substance, and both are composed of meaningless hot air. And, are create unwelcome noise.
” the left and right joined together to enact reform that reduced crime”
What did they have for lunch? What world are they living in? I guess when you live in Washington D.C. their world of unicorns and happy elves is certainly different than the world we live in.
Our problem in crime is that we used to make the violation of laws an actual criminal act and consequently punishment followed. Now, it’s almost impossible to convict anyone of anything due to legal industry dragging things out and causing the total violation of our Bill of Rights by the foregoing of a “speedy trial.” Trials now last forever and the legal industry makes fortunes from it.
Now, take the new generation of liberal whiners and we find ourselves convicting upon feelings and not law.
No wonder our legal system is the commode that is flushing our safety and rights down the hole.
Sure .... start with the Federal CRIMINALS .... THAT would be justice !
Let the non violent drug offenders out so there will be room for the politicians!
When used by the current administration, the phrase ‘Right on Crime’, of course, equals fewer arrests of Black criminals and illegal immigrants, lighter sentences for them, and far harsher criticism - and far more numerous prosecutions - of White policemen.
How about we first count how many federal laws there are, then set about cutting them in half and seeing if the republic can survive that? Then we keep cutting from there.
1-Put the criminals in jail.
2-Quit inviting more criminals into our country.
oh...and way back at the beginning....
1-Put God back in the center of our lives and our culture.
2-Quit pretending Fathers aren’t important.
3-Yes, there is a “Right” and a “Wrong” and “Wrong” has consequences.
Just like New York City...once crime is under control due to JAILING FELONS - the politicians have to WRECK IT, based on their guilt trips.
Must have been announced before lunch. Otherwise, I’d be surprised he could slur a sentence together...
How about following the Constitution, repeal the 99.9% of current illegal/unconstitutional laws and actually crack down on those that commit ‘crimes’; the type that trample/suppress/infringe upon the Rights of others (unlike the ‘mental stress’ lawsuits or the like).
Course, that would mean a WHOLE lot of you and your colleagues behind the iron bars...
I wouldn't blame anyone who stopped reading right there.
Never happen, but I’d like to see them implement the French approach to “good behavior” in prison. To them, 10 years means at LEAST 10 years. You behave yourself in prison, that day counts towards your sentence. Act up, and it doesn’t.
It’d be quite a circus to see the courts squirm when they have to give out REAL sentences, instead of 20 years, out in five or six ‘cuz you found Jesus or behaved yourself (temporarily).
If there were Justice, Boner would be convicted of treason for his lapse of exercising the Power of the House.
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