Folks, this is GREAT news! And i'm not just saying that because I'm reading Michelle Alexander's fantastic book The New Jim Crow about racism in the criminal justice system, especially the war on drugs (okay, maybe). But it really is a great move for the federal government to reduce mandatory sentences for crack. The sentences have been overly long and punitive compared to other drugs, and the African-American community has felt the impacts of this policy most severely.
So, what will this do? Will this reduction in sentences lead to a crack epidemic a la the 1980s? Not likely. The individuals in prison who will be affected by this (an estimated 12,000 prisoners) will be able to be released early from their sentences and return to their communities. But these folks are criminal! you might be saying to yourself. Yup, they broke the law. And they were sentenced to jail for their crime. But that sentence was deemed to not fit the crime and so they will be released earlier (depending on their charges) because they have already paid the price for their crime. Will they be rearrested? Well, it depends on so many factors. According to the numbers (which i'm not citing here), 70% of people released from jail recidiviate within three years. That is huge. Sure, some people are hardened criminals and fall back into that, but others simply have no other resources. They've been locked away and their families have moved on. They have no support at home. They can't get a job because they've not only been out of the workforce but they've been in jail. There are no reentry programs to help people coming out of jail. But you know what? Those are problems they would still be facing at the end of their 37 month longer term. They've served the appropriate time for their crimes.
Plus, this reduces the federal prison population, freeing up space for violent offenders and saving money for other things, like drug treatment and alternative to jail programs (ha! I wish).
So, what will this do? Will this reduction in sentences lead to a crack epidemic a la the 1980s? Not likely. The individuals in prison who will be affected by this (an estimated 12,000 prisoners) will be able to be released early from their sentences and return to their communities. But these folks are criminal! you might be saying to yourself. Yup, they broke the law. And they were sentenced to jail for their crime. But that sentence was deemed to not fit the crime and so they will be released earlier (depending on their charges) because they have already paid the price for their crime. Will they be rearrested? Well, it depends on so many factors. According to the numbers (which i'm not citing here), 70% of people released from jail recidiviate within three years. That is huge. Sure, some people are hardened criminals and fall back into that, but others simply have no other resources. They've been locked away and their families have moved on. They have no support at home. They can't get a job because they've not only been out of the workforce but they've been in jail. There are no reentry programs to help people coming out of jail. But you know what? Those are problems they would still be facing at the end of their 37 month longer term. They've served the appropriate time for their crimes.
Plus, this reduces the federal prison population, freeing up space for violent offenders and saving money for other things, like drug treatment and alternative to jail programs (ha! I wish).
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