Language
Country/Area
No result found
Can you believe it? More than 3,000 prisoners were released due to this bill. What is the story behind this?
In December 2018, the U.S. Congress passed an important bill, the First Step Act, officially known as the Former Prisoner Safe Transformation Reentry Act. The purpose of the bill is to reform the federal prison system and its sentencing laws, with the goal of reducing recidivism rates and reducing the federal prison population while maintaining public safety. The passage of this bill not only changed the fate of many prisoners, but also had a profound impact on the criminal justice system in the United States.
The First Step Act is one of the most far-reaching criminal justice reforms ever passed by Congress, helping to free thousands of prisoners from unnecessary imprisonment.
Background of the Bill
The bill dates back to May 2018, when it was introduced by Georgia Congressman Doug Collins. The initial version of the bill focused on reducing recidivism rates by establishing a risk and needs assessment system. The system allows prison managers to match inmates with appropriate recidivism reduction programs based on their risk rating.
As the bill progressed, the legal provisions involved gradually diversified, including prohibiting the use of restraints on prisoners during pregnancy and expanding the geographical scope of prisoner placement. These changes were made over time and ultimately led to the passage of the bill.
A key aim of the bill is to reduce reoffending rates and support prisoners’ reintegration into society through evidence-based programmes.
Challenges in adoption and implementation
Although the bill was ultimately passed by an overwhelming majority, its debate in the Senate was not smooth. Initially, many senators expressed concerns about specific initiatives in the bill and their impact on victims, particularly the provision regarding issuing good behavior commutations. Opponents worry that such reforms could make punishments less severe for some criminals.
Even so, the bill received bipartisan support and was ultimately passed in December 2018 and signed into law by President Trump.
Post-release results and follow-up evaluation
According to statistics, more than 3,000 federal prisoners have been released since the bill was passed as a result of good behavior and recidivism reduction programs. In addition, more than 2,000 prisoners were given the opportunity for early release through sentence commutation. But there are still some challenges in implementation, especially in the enforcement of sentencing adjustments, and some prosecutors have challenged the release of prisoners in court.
Critics point out that while the law has successfully released some prisoners, its implementation is often not as expected, and many prisoners who should be released still face many obstacles.
Future Impact and Outlook
For many high-risk prisoners during the pandemic, the First Step Act provides additional support to encourage more prisoners to receive compassionate release. However, issues remain, including insufficient funding, enforcement of the bill and the fairness of risk assessment tools for prisoners.
Many advocates worry that while the bill’s initial success could improve the status quo, it will be difficult to push through necessary reforms in the future because many in the chamber are likely to oppose new measures.
During the reform process, how to ensure that all prisoners can benefit fairly is an issue we need to consider in the future.
With the implementation of the First Step Act, public attention to criminal justice reform has increased. The success or failure of this bill will directly affect the future legal process. In this reform, we can't help but think: In the pursuit of justice, is there enough room for everyone to get the opportunities and treatment they deserve?
