The new wave of criminal justice reform Posted on November 20, 2018 by Andrew Findley A bipartisan criminal justice reform bill backed by President Trump may yet have a difficult time being passed by Congress, according to CNBC. The bill could save the federal government millions of dollars by reducing thousands of prison sentences. The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, contributed to a column in USA Today backing criminal justice reform. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stands in the bill’s way. Time notes that the bill has strong conservative support, including the backing of billionaire Charles Koch. The New York Times editorial board has also expressed support. Meanwhile, across the country, a new wave of district attorneys is bringing about criminal justice reform on the local level. The Washington Post profiles district attorneys like Mark Gonzalez of Corpus Christi, Texas, a self-styled “Mexican biker lawyer” who’s one of several progressive prosecutors pushing for reform. The Post also mentions Wesley Bell of Ferguson, Missouri, Larry Krasner of Philadelphia and Kim Foxx of Chicago as some of the district and state attorneys seeking to overhaul the criminal justice system.
