Because 90% of all prisoners in the United States are in state facilities, the work that states are doing to reduce their prison populations is crucial. Attempting to end mass incarceration necessitates realizing this is a situation requiring not one national solution, but fifty state solutions. Below are current state solutions that could be effectively modeled by other states for meaningful reform.
“A year ago, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley condemned a sentencing reform bill backed by Ted Cruz as ‘lenient’ and ‘dangerous.’ Eight months later, it was Cruz’s turn. Explaining his opposition to a sentencing reform bill backed by Grassley, Cruz described it as dangerously lenient.“
The American Conservative
October 10, 2018
Read More“Not long ago, Texas was viewed as a leading state on criminal justice reform. Former Gov. Rick Perry signed legislation that reduced the prison population and was regarded as a model for the country — embodying both compassionate and fiscal conservatism. Our state’s efforts were then embraced by federal leaders, with Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn championing legislation to reduce harsh federal sentences for drug offenses. But now Cruz and Cornyn have become the face of opposition to sentencing reform, and without their support, our state began losing its leadership role on this critical issue.“
Houston Chronicle
October 6, 2018
Read More“In his campaign for re-election, Cruz has shattered that truce. He has targeted otherwise bipartisan rhetoric about criminal justice reform as the subject for convenient campaign season attacks. It cheapens the debate and stifles the sort of progress that Texas Republicans once took pride in.“
Houston Chronicle
September 27, 2018
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