Criminal Justice

Making “Smart on Crime” Policies a Priority

June 28, 2016

In the run up to the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer, several groups have signed a letter urging both parties to include criminal justice reform in their policy platforms. The letter, signed by groups like the ACLU, NAACP, and Brennan Center for Justice, calls for several reforms to the current justice system that have the potential to lower incarceration and recidivism rates.

According to Politico’s Seung  Min Kim, some policies the groups are advocating for include job training and educational programs for former inmates, reduced sentencing so that “punishment is proportional to the crime,” and federal funding to reward states that reduce crime and prison populations.

While policy recommendations such as using federal funding as a carrot or stick to influence state policy deserve close scrutiny and potential skepticism, it is positive to see groups asking leaders to end “tough on crime” policies in favor of “smart on crime” policies.