American carnage president presides prison reform push #
You're referring to President Donald Trump's efforts to reform the United States' prison system during his presidency. Here's a brief summary:
In 2018, President Trump signed the First Step Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing recidivism rates and providing relief to non-violent drug offenders. The law made several changes to the federal prison system, including:
- Reducing mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses: The law reduced the mandatory minimum sentence for simple drug possession from 5 years to 1 year, and for drug trafficking from 10 years to 5 years.
- Expanding early release programs: The law expanded the Early Release Program, which allows eligible prisoners to be released early if they complete certain rehabilitation programs.
- Increasing funding for prisoner rehabilitation: The law increased funding for programs that help prisoners prepare for re-entry into society, such as job training and education.
- Improving prison conditions: The law required the Bureau of Prisons to improve conditions in federal prisons, including reducing overcrowding and improving mental health care.
The First Step Act was a significant step towards prison reform, and it has been credited with reducing recidivism rates and improving the lives of thousands of prisoners. However, there is still much work to be done to address the many challenges facing the US prison system.
Some of the key statistics and facts about the US prison system include:
- The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 2.3 million people behind bars.
- The majority of prisoners are non-violent offenders, with many serving long sentences for drug-related crimes.
- The US prison system is plagued by overcrowding, with many prisons operating at or above capacity.
- Prisoners face significant challenges when they are released, including a lack of job opportunities, housing, and healthcare.
- The US spends over $80 billion per year on its prison system, which is more than the entire budget of many countries.
Overall, while the First Step Act was an important step towards prison reform, there is still much work to be done to address the many challenges facing the US prison system.