Criminal justice reform is an interesting topic because it is one that members of both mainstream parties support, and it is one in which we can quickly see an impact if action is taken. There is no doubt that the criminal justice system needs to be reformed and improved due to its compounding adverse effects on individuals who enter the system and the communities they live in. It is estimated that if we were to invest $1 billion now in teen criminal prevention, we could see returns of up to $8.6 billion in economic activity, as well as a 20% reduction in convictions.
On a social scale, anyone who is imprisoned can potentially see a 40% reduction in future earnings. This is billions, if not trillions of economic activity seemingly lost. Additionally, children who have their parents removed from the home (or that are simply never present) can suffer from multiple negative psychological effects. According to the Children’s Bureau, “Children who feel a closeness to their father are: twice as likely as those who do not to enter college or find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to have a teen birth, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience multiple depression symptoms.” This is just one of many statistics demonstrating the need for parents, in this case fathers, in the home. And why do I specifically mention fathers? Because nearly 93% of all prison inmates are men.
There is so much more that I could go on about, from the disproportionate amount of African Americans imprisoned to the people who are thrown in jail because they can’t afford to pay debts like parking tickets and court fees. But I want to focus on the big picture. Now that we understand the impact of the situation, what can we do about it, and what is being done?
There are multiple ways to address this situation. First, through philanthropic donations to targeted causes. While a billion dollars might sound like a lot of money to invest, the government invests nearly 90 billion every year to maintain the current prison system. If even a fraction of this money was reallocated to preventing people from entering the system through education and various other programs, not only would we benefit as a nation, but also as individuals. Additionally, federal, state, and local officials can also enact systemic reforms to address current issues. Mandatory sentencing and throwing people in prison who can’t pay their fines are both issues that need to be addressed. Side note: It’s ironic that putting people in prison costs more than the fines they are likely paying.
So, what has been done? On a federal level, a bipartisan bill called the First Step Act was passed and signed into law back in 2018. The goal of this bill was to help reduce sentences for various crimes and to help transition those currently in prison back into the general population. While we are still waiting to understand the impact of this bill, since it is currently less than a year old, estimates from various agencies appear positive. Additionally, President Trump has announced the creation of the Second Step Act which continues the work of the First Step Act.
So, where do I stand on all of this? I think we are headed in the right direction, but it is clear that much more needs to be done. In order to make a major change to the criminal justice system, the President and Congress must turn towards sentencing reform as well. Additionally, on the state and local level, we should look to pass legislation when Congress fails to do so, and do everything possible to improve the education systems currently in place. While it is promising to see such bipartisan support for this type of legislation, it is important that we shift our mindset from a society who punishes the individual to one that addresses the root problems. It’s extremely difficult to reintegrate yourself back into a society that scorned you and is unwilling to help you get back on your feet. It is time we take action on what should be a simple fix.
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