Bernie Sanders unveils criminal justice reform plan aiming to curb prison population

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 presidential candidate, on Sunday unveiled a sweeping criminal justice reform initiative that aims to end mandatory minimum sentences and cut the United States prison population in half.

Sanders is slated to release the plan, which his campaign says is designed to root out institutional racism and corporate profiteering, during a town hall in Columbia, S.C.

Source

I'm kind of surprised this hasn't been brought up on here. Sanders is often criticized for not bringing major legislation before Congress. Meanwhile Trump has got praise for his minor prison reform.

At a glance I see a lot to like about this proposal. We do need to end private prisons nationwide. We do need to legalize marijuana. We do need to revise our bail system so it doesn't benefit the wealthy.

Our prison system lags far behind the rest of the world and it's about time we took a hard look at it. While not everything from this proposal will make it through Congress, it definitely looks like a good start.

originally posted by: Xcalibur254

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 presidential candidate, on Sunday unveiled a sweeping criminal justice reform initiative that aims to end mandatory minimum sentences and cut the United States prison population in half.

Sanders is slated to release the plan, which his campaign says is designed to root out institutional racism and corporate profiteering, during a town hall in Columbia, S.C.

Source

I'm kind of surprised this hasn't been brought up on here. Sanders is often criticized for not bringing major legislation before Congress. Meanwhile Trump has got praise for his minor prison reform.

At a glance I see a lot to like about this proposal. We do need to end private prisons nationwide. We do need to legalize marijuana. We do need to revise our bail system so it doesn't benefit the wealthy.

Our prison system lags far behind the rest of the world and it's about time we took a hard look at it. While not everything from this proposal will make it through Congress, it definitely looks like a good start.

The Prison Industrial Complex will not be happy , I think mandatory minimum sentences are a very blunt tool and needing of reform.
Hopefully the next President will pick up the baton and do something to address your burgeoning prison population.

While the United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners.
en.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: Xcalibur254
And here, at the very end of the article, is the whole point of bernies bill.

He's also called for more states to join Vermont and Maine in allowing imprisoned felons to vote.

.

I'll pass on allowing felons to vote WHILE in prison.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

I like Sanders. I hope he wins the nomination!

a reply to: dfnj2015

He is far and away the most popular candidate among the 18-35 vote. That is now a demographic that outnumbers all others. So if Bernie could galvanize that age group (something Obama was successful at doing) he will win the presidency.

less than 10% of all prison inmates in the United States are incarcerated in private prisons. With the folks I’ve had contact with most of the inmates would rather serve their time in one.

But Florida is one of the best examples of a prison industry . They have 143 prisons and work camps state wide . Those are located in small-town areas like Lancaster, Hendry and Bowling Green .

Everybody that lives in those areas works or is dependent on the prison. Which makes it the perfect cottage Industry for rural areas.

originally posted by: gortex
Hopefully the next President will pick up the baton and do something to address your burgeoning prison population.

Why does this have to be a presidential initiative? This is what Congress is paid to do. They create laws and should be debating issues and come up with solutions. Ultimately, they have to convince the President to sign the bill.

Congress, the only place where you can earn big money, pay little taxes, get paid under the table and not ever break a sweat. Legal con-men (and women).

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
a reply to: dfnj2015

He is far and away the most popular candidate among the 18-35 vote. That is now a demographic that outnumbers all others. So if Bernie could galvanize that age group (something Obama was successful at doing) he will win the presidency.

cool, I'm about tired of working. Ima get me some free sh!t. Bring on the Burn.

Sanders continues on the road to failure 😎

How much do I get a month for quitting my job? Because I'm definitely not working 40 hours a week to be taxed at 70%.

a reply to: Middleoftheroad

Why should you be dependent on a job to live? I think every American should just get $60k, or is that not enough?

Average American (works 40-60 hours a week, has declining purchasing power, has increasing costs for healthcare, education, housing, has less and less money to pay for necessities, has govt that constantly passes legislation benefiting corporations and penalizing him/her) it would be nice if my ever increasing taxes paid for healthcare and education which I can no longer afford, and which every other western industrialized nation gets in return, rather than more wars, and subsidizing oil and other rich businesses.

The wealthy elite and their pawns (makes more and more money taken from the increased profit that other people’s labor creates, votes themselves tax breaks and non competitive legislation, lies about finances to irs to get out of paying their fair share, claims higher taxes mean higher prices on goods and lower wages, but don’t drop prices on goods or pay higher wages when they get a tax break, drastically increase prices of education, healthcare, goods and services pricing Americans out of labor competition, while skyrocketing interest, insurance, and penalty fees) “why do these poor workers want free stuff??”

Schools should use this method.
100% graduation rates for all high schools by not failing any students.
The kids are still stupid but they have a diploma.

originally posted by: Middleoftheroad
How much do I get a month for quitting my job? Because I'm definitely not working 40 hours a week to be taxed at 70%.

That’s not how progressive tax works, which you know. But feel free to quit, nobody cares.

a reply to: LogicalGraphitti

Why does this have to be a presidential initiative? This is what Congress is paid to do.

OK , I hope Congress will pick up the baton and do something to address your burgeoning prison population.

Somebody needs to.

originally posted by: xuenchen
Sanders continues on the road to failure 😎

But at least he doesn't waiver and flip flop back and forth like the other candidates.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

The Justice system as a whole has lost it's way. Reform is needed and glad to see it takea prominent role in the election. Hopeful about the First Step Act. A Bipartisan effort which has a chance of making a difference. Unlike what was attempted and proposed with health care, I hope they take smaller bites and make adjustments before taking giant missteps. Much work to be done, and taking profits out of the system thru fines, for profit prisons and other areas but need to be small steps

a reply to: pexx421

screw working and paying taxes, I was told we are all getting free money. I like that.
ima get paid!

originally posted by: Bluntone22
Schools should use this method.
100% graduation rates for all high schools by not failing any students.
The kids are still stupid but they have a diploma.

We have that already.

I call bs. How come he hasn’t worked on prison reform yet? He’s had the opportunity. He’s just telling the American people what they wanna hear. Just like the rest of them.