The Republican National Committee has passed a resolution calling for reducing the number of low-level offenders in prison, among other criminal justice reforms. If the resolution is re-approved at the Republican National Convention, criminal justice reform would become part of a major party’s platform for the first time.
While criminal justice reform is typically portrayed as a Democratic cause, Democrats have never put it on their platform. In the 1990s, the Democratic position was to support policies such as “three strikes, you’re out” sentencing laws and “$8 billion in new funding to help states build new prison cells,” which many believe contributed to the current high incarceration rate. As recently as 2012, the DNC pledged only to “fight[ing] inequalities in our criminal justice system,” without mentioning any specific reforms.
While it is true that most Democratic politicians now support criminal justice reform legislation despite its absence from their party’s platform, the most evident politicians fighting for reform right now are Republicans. Republican Senators Mike Lee and John Cornyn are working to drum up recent support for the stalled Sentencing Reform and Correction Act, comprehensive legislation aimed at reducing mass incarceration. At the state level, Republican leaders have also shown initiative in passing criminal justice reform measures. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal have supported legislation that would significantly reduce their states’ prison populations. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has fought for laws that would facilitate prisoners get treatment rather than prison sentences.
In announcing the resolution, RNC member Tom Mechler quoted these politicians and said, “Republicans are leading the effort for this resolution.”
