When the U.S. government initiated efforts in 2018 to reduce recidivism in federal prisons, the aim was to end the cycle that makes many inmates repeat offenders. To achieve that goal, inmates would engage in recidivism-reduction programs to earn increased good-conduct time.
But the lofty objectives of the First Step Act, approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump, still have a long way to go to live up to their potential, says Christopher Zoukis, author of the Directory of Federal Prisons and managing director of Zoukis Consulting Group www.prisonerresource.com.
The act was a good first step, no pun intended, but where it fails is by excluding too many categories of inmates from various benefit provisions. Inmates within over 60 categories of offenses are ineligible to earn credit toward early release under the act. For example, certain immigration, violent, sex offense, and drug offenders are ineligible from receiving additional good conduct time for program participation.
If the objective is to reduce recidivism, then It makes no sense to bar sex offenders, violent offenders and other more grim crimes from this benefit. We should want to promote healing and improved decision-making among all offenders, not simply the lowest-level offenders.
Biden and Harris ain’t gonna do s***. He literally supported the 1994 Crime Bill and Harris fought to keep innocent people in prison and fought police transparency laws.
Biden/Harris promised pandemic relief, stimulus bills, student loan relief. It’s almost two months into their term and out of that all they did was bomb Syria lol.
Biden is just a moderate/conservative Democrat, only slightly better (or slightly worse) than Trump. The real change candidate would have people people like Bernie Sanders, a Libertarian candidate, maybe Andrew Yang.
Want to reduce repeat offenders? Then focus on reducing the cidivism rate (I’m still amazed cidivism isn’t a real word).
What can Biden do to prevent recidivism? Remove the shameful, oppressive, discriminatory registry that forces people on it to live the rest of their lives in the shadows.
Get rid of overzealous prosecutors who care only about conviction rates than true Justice. Get rid of judges who are biased against registrants and get rid of recalling judges because society believes their to soft. Get rid of overzealous rules of probation/parole and hire people who want to help an individual, rather than violating them. Get rid of restrictions making life impossible to overcome with a conviction. Jail/prison should be treated as a place for punishment but also a place for re-entry into society like most European countries. Get rid of the money for profit of jails/prisons. Get rid of useless registries that harm individuals, communities and the country. Get rid of politicians who violate the Constitution. End the fear mongering and let Freedom ring for all!!
REDUCING RECIDIVISM?
We’ve laws to penalize murder and to act as deterrent. How well do they work?
Not very well.
We’ve laws to penalize child molestation and rape and to act as deterrent. How well do they work?
Not very well.
We’ve law to penalize fraud and theft and to act as deterrent. How well do they work?
Not very well.
The presumption that law itself can act as deterrence is a fantasy. As the notorious R.B.G. put “recidivism as a statutory concern is a peculiar notion.” But if you add proper order to the mix you stand a chance. Obviously proper order via judgment notice was not the priority for the majority in Alaska v Doe- Smith v Doe03.
The fed OMNIBUS94 was indeed championed by our current U.S. President.
Ahh the advantages wrought via the use of the database for political security.
Unsolicited mail in ballots anyone?
Repubs couldn’t be whining any louder! They can thank the Catholic block vote on the Rehnquist Court concerning unfettered use of the machine database. The sex offender being the first Americans to have their sovereignty sold out to it. Resistance is futile you must comply……..
Nothing really, anyone who “willfully” commits crime is only asking for what they receive. But it’s the petty technical crimes invented by the system that end up being wasteful exhibitions of power and authority. Marketing the illusion of public safety through a minefield of bogus legal traps and then making it look like there’s an epidemic of crime somehow averted by these sting operations should not count as reducing recidivism.
In fact recidivism is just another buzzword to throw around and legitimize the whole rotten system. Marketing. Shock and awe politics.