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What’S The Point? The Missing Piece Of Criminal Justice Reform Through Consensus And Compromise, Jelani Jefferson Exum
What’S The Point? The Missing Piece Of Criminal Justice Reform Through Consensus And Compromise, Jelani Jefferson Exum
Faculty Publications
(Excerpt)
Criminal justice reform has had a firm place in news headlines for more than a decade. When the mass incarceration crisis came to the fore in 2008, with reports that one in a hundred adults in America was behind bars, there had already long been cries for reducing the prison and jail populations. Reform has mainly been sought through two approaches: consensus through ballot initiative or legislative compromise. But these modes of reform share a fundamental failure: both often lack a clear articulation of the purpose of criminal sentencing. In other words, “What’s the point?” Without an agreement on …
Giving Guidance To The Guidelines, Jelani Jefferson Exum
Giving Guidance To The Guidelines, Jelani Jefferson Exum
Faculty Publications
(Excerpt)
Throughout the country, we are seeing sentencing reform efforts reshape the way resources are being used to control crime and punish offenders. Fueled mostly by the practical challenges of overcrowded prisons and mounting costs, lawmakers have been willing to amend existing law in order to reduce incarceration for low-level, nonviolent offenders. This same effort at being "smart on crime" has been embraced by the federal government as well. While most of these changes are in the form of changes to mandatory minimum laws, the use of evidence-based sentencing practices, and a focus on diversion and re-entry programs, the role …