SPLC statement on sentencing reform and corrections act
Below is a statement in response to the reintroduction of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act by a group of bipartisan senators including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Illinois.
Criminal justice reform enjoys rare bipartisan support, and Congress should leverage that backing to pass this landmark package. Most states – including red ones – have recognized mass incarceration as a poor investment that costs taxpayers billions of dollars but fails to make us any safer.
These states have implemented proven policies that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. In doing so, they have reduced incarceration levels, lowered crime rates, and saved millions.
It’s time for the federal government to build on the foundation that’s been laid at the state and local levels to ensure a fair and effective criminal justice system for all.
