Lenses

Bipartisan Support

Nationwide polls continue to confirm that criminal justice reform is a bipartisan issue and that significant majorities of Republican and Democrat voters favor a fairer and more compassionate criminal justice system.[]Robert Blizzard, Key Findings from a National Survey of 800 Registered Voters, January 11-14, 2018 (Washington, DC: Justice Action Network, 2018).

Top Things to Know

  1. Millions of eligible voters had no access to polls during this election year—because they were in jail.
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  2. Prosecutors’ associations wield legislative influence, hindering reforms.
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  3. Trump signs FIRST STEP Act into law.
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  4. Massachusetts enacts bipartisan criminal justice reform law.
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  5. Illinois and Michigan pass laws changing the parameters of parole.
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  1. Jurisdictions are giving judges, juries more options.
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  2. Legislators focus on punishing overprescription—with a nod to prevention.
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  3. Congress passes—and President Trump signs—bipartisan prison reform legislation.
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  4. States focus on improving conditions for women in prison.
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  5. More than a million people with felony convictions regain the right to vote.
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  6. More than a dozen states lift barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated people.
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  7. More states make it easier to seal and expunge criminal records.
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  8. Congress reauthorizes Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.
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  9. A renewed focus on mental health for police—and the vulnerable populations they encounter.
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On Our Radar

  • Litigation leads the way in bail reform.
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  • Prosecutors stall New York’s first-of-its-kind commission to investigate prosecutorial misconduct.
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  • Four prosecutors commit to taking a data-driven look at office priorities and policies.
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  • California gives prosecutors the power to recommend reduced sentences—for people already serving time.
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  • Massachusetts passes landmark prison reform bill.
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  • FIRST STEP Act revives transitional housing for people in federal prison.
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  • Second Chance Act reauthorized at last minute, after inclusion in FIRST STEP Act.
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  • Organizations seek expanded youth diversion programs and changes to youth probation.
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  • A bipartisan effort saves a program informing immigrants of their legal rights.
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