1. Criminal Justice Reform
Preparing for the Ignatian Family Teach In

2. Overview What’s the problem? How did we get here?
What does the Church have to say about it?
What’s happening on Capitol Hill?
Q&A

4. What’s Wrong? Growth in Prison Population
US Population = 5% of the global population
US prison population = 25% of the global prison population
500% increase since 1980

5. Racial Disparities in the Justice System
People of Color make up 30% of the U.S. population and 60% of the prison population
1 in 3 black men will incarcerated at some point in their lives based on current trends
All of this despite no meaningful difference in crime rates

6. Recidivism and Barriers to Re-Entry
630,000+ individuals are released each year
Recidivism rates: 67% within 3 years, 78% within 5 years.
Why?
30,000+ “collateral consequences”
Failure to address addiction, mental illness, education, and poverty

7. Death Penalty & Extreme Sentencing
Countries that Sentence Kids to Die in Prison:

8. The Politics of Mass Incarceration
Republicans: Ronald Reagan, 1968
Democrats: Joe Biden, 1994
“We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”
“Let me define the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. The liberal wing of the Democratic Party is now for 60 new death penalties. The liberal wing of the Democratic Party has 70 enhanced penalties… The liberal wing of the Democratic Party is for 100,000 cops. The liberal wing of the Democratic Party is for 125,000 new state prison cells.”

9. From the War on Poverty to Tough on Crime
Civil Rights, the War on Poverty, and the War on Drugs
Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
Rockefeller Laws
Truth in Sentencing Laws
Collateral Consequences
Policing policy: stop & frisk
Criminalization of mental health and poverty

10. Catholic Social Teaching and CJ Reform
USCCB: Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration (2000)
Duty to protect
Rejection of simplistic solutions: mandatory minimums, three strikes, etc
Promote crime prevention and poverty reduction
Challenge the culture of violence with a culture of life
Allow victims to participate in the criminal justice process
Promote restorative justice programs
Insist that punishment be constructive and rehabilitative
Address addiction and mental illness
Empower local communities to address the issues leading to crime

11. Pope Francis on Criminal Justice
Address to Congress:
I offer encouragement to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.”
Other Statements:
God is in everyone’s life. Even if the life of someone has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else.

12. What’s Happening on the Hill?
Bipartisan Consensus
House:
H.R.3713, The Sentencing Reform Act
H.R.759 The Recidivism Risk Reduction Act
H.R.3406 The Second Chance Act Reauthorization
Senate:
S.2123 The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act
S.1513 The Second Chance Act Reauthorization

13. The IFTJ Advocacy Day Asks:
ASK: Will the Congressperson publically support and vote for legislation that includes the following principles:
Abolishes the death penalty and life without parole sentences.
Reduces and ultimately eliminates mandatory minimum sentences.
Ensures every individual in federal prison receives the programming and support they need to re- enter society successfully.
Provides adequate funding for federal, state, local, and non-profits to support formerly incarcerated individuals and their families once they return home through mentoring, job training, health, and other services.
Bans the box requiring job applicants to disclose a criminal record on job applications. • Removes the lifetime ban on SNAP, TANF, and other government programs for individuals with criminal records.
ASK: Will the Congressperson oppose legislation that would negatively affect individuals and their family-members involved in the criminal justice system? Specifically:
Oppose any further cuts to funding for prison programming and reentry services.
Create no additional penalties or barriers that make it more difficult for an individual to successfully reintegrate into their community.