The United States has 5% of the world’s population – but 25% of its prisoners. Fortunately, at a time of great partisan divide, prison reform is one area with bipartisan consensus. Officials ranging from President Obama to Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul have publicly acknowledged that our country faces a criminal justice crisis. An increasing number of Americans understand there’s no reason we should have the world’s most gigantic prison population. That is why Obama should act now, with bipartisan support and momentum, to tackle the growing problem of mass incarceration. A National Commission on Mass Incarceration is the best way to address this crisis. Bills to create a similar commission have been introduced in Congress before, with little success. But the president – with the mere stroke of his pen – can create such a commission all on his own, without having to convince a gridlocked Congress to act ... ... As long as mass incarceration continues to hide in plain sight, there is no political incentive for lawmakers to address what has become one of the largest civil rights atrocities in American history.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Apr 2014 02:48:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015