Political Quotes

“I commend Representative Collins for success on this very important issue. Oftentimes people ask what is required of us, and it is to do justice and love mercy, and that is exactly what the First Step Act does. Is it a perfect bill? No, it is not. Is it a first step? Yes, and it is a good first step. For too long, we have been passing the law of diminishing returns on our criminal justice system. Every dollar that we spend on incarceration actually makes our neighborhoods and our communities less safe. So does this bill address the strained relationships between police and the communities that they serve? Yes. Does it address the criminalization of poverty? No, and it leaves many unjust sentences in place. However, there is no doubt in my mind that this bill is a positive step in the right direction. It expands safety valve provisions that allow judges to block unfair sentences. It rolls back stacking rules that allow defendants to be charged with multiple crimes for a single incident. It prohibits the shackling of pregnant prisoners. It would also provide $75 million per year for programming to help prisoners prepare for life after incarceration, and it will also allow early release to some prisoners who participate. More than 4,000 prisoners will be eligible for release under this program.…”