Discussion and Major Essay

Discussion

Please write a paragraph or two on this topic:

President Trump has made prison reform one of his legislative agenda items.  He has argued that more money is needed for jobs training, education, and rehabilitation for those who are incarcerated to better able them to integrate back into society when their sentences are done.  Currently the prison reform bill that passed the House of Representatives ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3356) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.   authorizes funding for these types of programs.  The Senate version of the bill is somewhat different however, it includes funding for these programs but also addresses the issue of mandatory sentencing- which many claim has led to mass incarceration, particularly of young black males, for non-violent offenses- that is currently stalled in committee.  President Trump has argued for the Senate version.  However, if the Senate removes the sentencing reform component and passes the House version, should he sign it because it achieves some of what he wants?  Or should he veto it because it doesn't include the sentencing reform?  Why or why not?  And should he continue to advocate for prison reform or is this not an important issue?  

 

As always please respond to at least two other students' posts. 

Student 1: Prison reform is absolutely an important issue and the President should address this. There is many flaws in the current prison system, that does more harm than good. I feel Trump shouldn't sign the bill without the sentencing reform. Both issues go hand in hand. One of the biggest problems in prison is they're over crowded, mainly due to mandatory sentencing. Both issues need to be resolved in order to completely eliminate the problem. In today's society prison and sentencing reform is very important, especially with our country being divided. Black men particularly are being arrested for misdemeanor crimes and given ridiculous amount of time. A lot of times these non violent offenders aren't bad people, they are just trying to survive in a country that makes it difficult for them. When people get out of prison they have nothing but responsibilities.  Most business rather not hire someone with a criminal background. A lot of men and women get out of jail with the intent to live their lives right but no one will give them a chance. People have children but no job, hungry with no food, debt and no money. Without a chance it gives some people no choice but to do something illegal just to survive. Prison reform could change this vicious cycle of many offenders lives. I hope the Trump will do something positive and make a difference by fighting for prison and sentencing reform.

Student 2: What I think about Trump is that he does not want the senate to remove the sentencing reform, he is waiting for them to pass that as well as the bill is passed by the House for the prison reform, and I do not think that he is going to sign without  sentencing reform because last Friday he announced to sign that bill promised to sign bipartisan prison reform legislation currently working its way through Congress that could free thousands of prisoners. He said that because the package, which would immediately release 4,000 federal prisoners, and  the bill would also expand compassionate release, giving elderly and terminally ill inmates a path home, and invest tens of millions in re-entry programs.

Furthermore, the sentencing reform is important because offers federal inmates more opportunities to prepare for freedom and rewards them with more “good-time credit” for behaving and participating in education and training programs. The measure, called the First Step Act, would provide a faster path to release for almost all federal inmates, many of whom would see months shaved off their release dates immediately, thanks to changes that would apply retroactively. According to the news last Friday, Trump said that "adding the sentencing reform to the First Step Act would be an important bipartisan win".

So, the Trump supporters are trying to negotiate with the senate to pass that into law, like the House did pass that bill and would be very successful.