U.S. criminal justice reformers await holy ally in Pope Francis
Americas
U.S. criminal justice reformers await holy ally in Pope Francis
Last year, Francis called for an end to solitary confinement, the death penalty and life imprisonment. He has washed the feet of Roman inmates. Visiting a group of Bolivian prisoners recently, the pope told them he sees no difference between them and himself. Now Francis is coming to the United States, much to the delight of criminal justice reformers who have waged a growing bipartisan battle to scale back and remake the mammoth U.S. penal system. Reformers hope Francis’ visit will grab lawmakers’ attention. A few days before visiting an inner-city prison, the pope will address Congress and could raise the issue of criminal justice reform there as well.
A life sentence is just a death penalty in disguise.
Pope Francis
Criminal justice reformers are hoping the pope will address specific issues facing the U.S., which is home to nearly one-quarter of the world’s prisoners even though Americans make up just 5 percent of the global population. Bills currently stalled in Congress would allow inmates to shave time off their sentences by working in prison and would eliminate lengthy mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenders. Holly Harris, the director of the U.S. Justice Action Network, said she believes the pope’s focus on the issue could force presidential candidates to move beyond vague support for criminal justice reform and actually develop solid proposals for the U.S. penal system.
What we haven’t seen from all of them is detailed proposals on how they’re going to reduce the prison population, how they’re going to save money.
Holly Harris, the director of the U.S. Justice Action Network
