Criminal Justice Reform
The First Step Act was signed into law by President Trump in December. The First Step Act may just be precisely what it's named, the first step in the right direction for criminal justice reform. Thousands of inmates have received sentence reductions as well as the possibility for early release. Although this is a major leap for criminal justice reform, there are still an abundance of pressing issues within the prison system.
For one, men and women that are incarcerated lack the access to have necessary medical care. Whether this entails psychiatric or physical health care, inmates are not receiving the proper care. In early September of this year, the Federal Bureau of Prisons was hit was a lawsuit from the ACLU of Washington for refusing to allow inmates on opioid dependence medications to continue treatment. This was a direct violation of the eighth amendment. This is just one of many unjust scenarios that occur constantly within prisons. Another disconcerting issue is that many Texas prisons do to have AC. Living in the distressing environment of a prison cell with the additive of severe heat is inhumane. Forcing Texas prisoners to go most of the year with temperatures over one-hundred degrees is unacceptable. This is jeopardizing the lives of thousands of inmates and nothing is being done to change that. People are wrongly suffering everyday.
The list of problems goes on and on, but The First Step Act has opened a huge door into criminal justice reformation. Citizen's need to continue pressing for the justice of human rights. Whether a person is behind bars, or walking freely there still needs to be a basic protection right in place for everyone.
For one, men and women that are incarcerated lack the access to have necessary medical care. Whether this entails psychiatric or physical health care, inmates are not receiving the proper care. In early September of this year, the Federal Bureau of Prisons was hit was a lawsuit from the ACLU of Washington for refusing to allow inmates on opioid dependence medications to continue treatment. This was a direct violation of the eighth amendment. This is just one of many unjust scenarios that occur constantly within prisons. Another disconcerting issue is that many Texas prisons do to have AC. Living in the distressing environment of a prison cell with the additive of severe heat is inhumane. Forcing Texas prisoners to go most of the year with temperatures over one-hundred degrees is unacceptable. This is jeopardizing the lives of thousands of inmates and nothing is being done to change that. People are wrongly suffering everyday.
The list of problems goes on and on, but The First Step Act has opened a huge door into criminal justice reformation. Citizen's need to continue pressing for the justice of human rights. Whether a person is behind bars, or walking freely there still needs to be a basic protection right in place for everyone.
Throughout this article, you made some very good points that need to be addressed by congress sooner rather than later. I am happy to see that there has been some progress in criminal justice reform with the First step Act, but there still seems like there are so many other issues in the prison systems that need to be taken care of as well. I really appreciated the clear and concise article and think you did a great job organizing everything. It's sad to hear that there are many prisons in Texas not allowing prisoners access to A/C or even required medication that many need in order to function correctly. I really hope you are right about the fact that the First Step Act will help open doors for other prison reforms to come in the future. I just hope it moves a little faster then it has in the past. I really agree with you about the part when you said: "whether a person is behind bars, or walking freely there still needs to be a basic protection right in place for everyone." Without that basic protection, prisoners are unable to live a life without fear or struggling to survive. It makes me feel bad that there are so many people out there not being treated humanely and not receiving basic human rights that everyone deserves. Overall, I think you did a great job addressing all the issues as well as pushing for a change in the right way.
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