Congress — Social and Economic Issues — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Social and Economic Issues

Overcriminalization significantly undermines human flourishing and social well-being by harming the family, social networks, and social citizenship. Additionally, it prevents capable men and women from utilizing their creative capacities in the marketplace. This creates vast issues involving relations with family while incarcerated and reintegration into society after release. On the economic side, draconian cash bail systems undermine justice through basing someone's ability to attain pre-trial release upon their wealth, not their actual threat to society.

Formerly incarcerated Americans face tough odds. The farm bill could make them even tougher.

“Earlier in the summer, the House passed a version of the farm bill that contains a provision that would cut off benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (better known as SNAP or food stamps) for those who have completed sentences for certain violent crimes — even though they’ve served their time in prison. Current law, which expires this month, denies SNAP benefits only to those found guilty of a violent crime who violate their parole or the terms of their release.“

Washington Post

September 10, 2018

Economic IssuesPhillip ReevesSeptember 10, 2018Washington Post, Farm Bill, CongressComment

Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Eliminate Cash Bail

"The No Money Bail Act would prohibit the federal government from using any payment of money as a condition of pretrial release for criminal cases. It would call for grants to develop alternatives to money bail and to improve pretrial practices with the aim of reducing the number of people detained in jail prior to trial. And it would push states to come along with the shift by denying them access to Justice Department grants if they continue using money bail."

Reason Magazine

July 25, 2018

Bail ReformAnthony BradleyJuly 31, 2018Reason Magazine, Bernie Sanders, No Money Bail Act, Congress

Social and Economic Issues

Galsworthy CJR Program

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