ABA Kenndy Commission report

After a nearly yearlong review of U.S. prison and correctional systems, the ABA’s Justice Kennedy Commission has completed its work and today presented its final report to Justice Kennedy. Copies of the reports can be accessed here through the ABA website. The report — which address four primary sets of issues: sentencing and incarceration issues, racial and ethnic disparities in criminal justice systems, prison conditions and prisoner reentry issues, and pardons and clemency processes— will be considered by the House of Delegates in August. A succinct summary of the Commissions recommendations is available here. Here are excerpts from the ABA’s press release to provide a flavor of the Commisson’s findings and recommendations:

The commission noted that the United States imprisons more people than any other country in the world. With more than 2.1 million people behind bars, and some 650,000 set to be released this year, the commission urged jurisdictions to invest in programs that help inmates return to communities, provide alternatives to incarceration for offenders who would benefit from substance abuse and mental illness programs, and help eradicate the disproportionate impact “tough on crime” laws have on minorities. The commission also called on Congress to repeal mandatory minimum sentences.

The commission noted that about one-third of the more than 650,000 inmates who will be released this year can be expected to return to prison. Many of its recommendations are intended to help jurisdictions find ways to reduce the recidivism rate. One method, the commission noted, is for Congress and state legislatures to eliminate unnecessary legal barriers that make it difficult for some to become productive members of society. People with drug convictions-even minor possession charges, for example, are permanently ineligible for federal student loans, housing assistance or public assistance.