Obama visits prison to call for a fairer justice system

At a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) conference earlier this week, Obama expressed his concern about the growing population in United States prisons.

No doubt there are some who would rejoice at that idea, but alas, the president was just visiting.

His visit to the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison for male offenders in the state of Oklahoma, was part of his push for an alternative to the continued lengthy incarceration of people convicted of crimes he believes did not fit the punishment.

Regarding prison and sentence reform, he said, “What is normal is young people make mistakes”, and that the only difference between the inmates and most Americans are “resources”, and “social support structures”. Unfortunately, the law is not retroactive and has left thousands of prisoners languishing behind bars.

“Our criminal justice system isn’t as smart as it should be”. “It’s not keeping us safe as it should be”. The small space, home to two adult prisoners, was so tight, the President said that he couldn’t believe it once housed three grown men. He also argues that the nation must do more to rehabilitate prisoners and prepare them for re-entry into society after they have served out their sentence.

Afterward, the president told reporters the justice system needs to start distinguishing between young people who make mistakes and truly risky criminals.

Unless we ask and seek honest answers to those sorts of fundamental questions, we’ll never get anywhere.

The White House and Bureau of Prisons negotiated for weeks to be able to work out the logistics of the visit.

STEVE WASSERMAN, Assistant USA Attorney: Our criminal justice system has resulted in the last 25 years in the reduction of violent crime by about 50 percent and property crime also at about 50 percent.

The foundation provides scholarship to children of inmates to stop the cycle of crime.

And, you know, I think we have a tendency sometimes to almost take for granted or think it’s normal that so many young people end up in our criminal justice system. One corner held a metal toilet with no seat, a metal sink and a shelf.

Obama said the time was ripe for further reforms, citing bipartisan interest in the issue, and even mentioning the Koch Brothers and Kentucky Republican Sen.

As she wrote in the Huffington Post: “Americans want more effective options that reflect understanding that holding someone accountable doesn’t necessarily mean warehousing them in a cage, and that failing to provide individualized support for rehabilitation and re-engagement with community is pennywise and pound foolish”. At United States dollars 80 billion, the budget for prisons represents a third of the Department of Justice’s annual spending.

Spriggs, who said he is familiar with El Reno, said Obama’s prison tour likely will be limited to critical areas, and those areas will be roped off so that access is given only to the warden and immediate staff so they can explain what happens there daily.