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<input class="searchbox" id="searchbox" name="query" type="text" value="Search" /> <input class="searchbutton" type="submit" value=""/> </form></div> </div> </div> </div>  </header>   <main id="main" class="main layout-main clearfix"> <div id="content" tabindex="-1" class="layout-content"> <div id="content-inner" class="inner column center"> <div id="content-area"> <div class="longpage-main"> <div class="masthead-wrap clearfix"> <div class="masthead"> <div class="masthead-header"> <h1 class="title" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 400;"> Criminal Justice Reform </h1> <h2 class="subtitle">What You Need to Know about President Obama’s Plans for Criminal Justice Reform<p><a href="#section-352946" class="btn btn-white">See the Topic Areas</a></p></h2> </div> </div> <div class="longpage-featured-sections"> </div> </div> <section class="longpage-nav-wrapper clearfix"> <nav class="longpage-nav" class="longpage-nav"> <a href="javascript://" id="longpage-nav-menu-toggle" class="longpage-nav-menu-toggle">Jump to a Section</a> <div class="item-list"><ul class="longpage-nav-menu"><li name="section-whats-at-stake" class="lp-nav-anchor first"><a href="#section-whats-at-stake">What's At Stake</a></li> <li name="section-topics" class="lp-nav-anchor"><a href="#section-topics">Topics</a></li> <li name="section-video" class="lp-nav-anchor last"><a href="#section-video">Video</a></li> </ul></div> <div class="longpage-nav-aside"> <div class="longpage-nav-top-link"><a class="go-to-top" href="#">Go To Top</a></div> <ul class="longpage-nav-social-media-links"> <li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse" class="facebook">Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ObamaWhiteHouse" class="twitter">Twitter</a></li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> <div class="longpage-body"> <div class="longpage-sections"> <div id="section-352941" class="longpage-section longpage-section-basic layout-right-media clearfix"> <div class="longpage-section-wrapper"> <a class="section-anchor" name="section-whats-at-stake"></a> <h2 class="section-title"><span class="star grey"><b> <span class="red">What's At Stake</span> </span></b></span></h2> <div class="section-body"> <link href="//maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.2.0/css/font-awesome.min.css" rel="stylesheet" /> <h2 class="section-title" style="margin-top:-20px;"><span class="h2-hack">There are 2.2 million people behind bars in the United States, compared to 500,000 just 30 years ago. Meaningful sentencing reform, steps to reduce repeat offenders, and support for law enforcement are crucial to improving public safety, reducing runaway incarceration costs, and making our criminal justice system more fair.</span></h2>     <div class="hr"> <div class="hear-president three"> <div class="video-wrapper"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/XiosRLz5q10?version=3&showinfo=0&hl=en_US" width="560"></iframe></div> <div class="video-caption"> <h6> President Obama Meets Clemency Recipients</h6> <p>March 30, 2016<br/> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiosRLz5q10" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube </a></p> </div> </div> <div class="hear-president three"> <div class="video-wrapper"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/V_Hss877fcU?version=3&showinfo=0&hl=en_US" width="560"></iframe></div> <div class="video-caption"> <h6> The President Speaks to Police Chiefs in Chicago</h6> <p>October 17, 2015<br/> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_Hss877fcU" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube </a></p> </div> </div> <div class="hear-president three"> <div class="video-wrapper"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/qEETNEBj4iQ?version=3&showinfo=0&hl=en_US" width="560"></iframe></div> <div class="video-caption"> <h6> The President Hosts a Panel on Criminal Justice Reform</h6> <p>October 22, 2015<br/> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEETNEBj4iQ" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube </a></p> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="whit">Our country faces a vicious cycle of poverty, criminality, and incarceration that traps too many Americans and weakens too many communities. There are 2.2 million people behind bars in America today, compared to 500,000 just 30 years ago. The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population but over 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. Every year, we spend $80 billion to keep people locked up.<br/><br/> This topic isn’t new – the President has talked about the unfairness of much of the criminal justice system since his time in the Senate. The President has traveled the country and met with Americans who are working to fix the criminal justice system, from law enforcement officials working to lower the crime and incarceration rates, to former prisoners who are earning their second chance. And he promised to continue to work with Congress to pass meaningful criminal justice reform that makes the system cost-effective, fairer, and smarter, while enhancing the ability of law enforcement to keep our communities safe.<br/><br/> Since taking office, the Administration has worked to enhance fairness and efficiency at all phases of the criminal justice system, including the President signing the <a href="/blog/2010/08/03/president-obama-signs-fair-sentencing-act">Fair Sentencing Act</a>, the Department of Justice launching the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/attorney-generals-smart-crime-initiative">Smart on Crime initiative</a>, and the creation of the <a href="/blog/2014/12/18/president-obama-creates-task-force-21st-century-policing">Task Force on 21st Century Policing</a>. <a href="/the-press-office/2015/07/14/fact-sheet-enhancing-fairness-and-effectiveness-criminal-justice-system">Read more about actions President Obama has taken to reform the criminal justice system.</a></div> <style type="text/css"> /* Header Area */ .masthead-wrap .longpage-intro { background-color:transparent; 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Commutations underscore the President’s commitment to using all the tools at his disposal to bring greater fairness and equity to our justice system. To further this progress, the President has established a clemency initiative to encourage individuals who were sentenced under outdated laws and policies to petition for commutation.</p> <p class="small">LEARN MORE:</p> <ul> <li><p class="small"><a href="/the-press-office/2016/03/01/presidential-memorandum-limiting-use-restrictive-housing-federal">President Obama has commuted the sentences of 248 individuals.</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/sites/default/files/docs/jerry_allen_bailey.pdf">Read the President’s letter to all clemency recipients. (PDF)</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/blog/2015/07/13/president-obama-announces-46-commutations-video-address-america-nation-second-chance">Watch the President talk about commuting sentences.</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-initiative" target="_blank">Learn more about the clemency initiative.</a></p></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block" style="width:100%;"> <div class="thegrid three"> <img src="/sites/default/files/image/cj_solitary.jpg" alt="" style="padding-right: 10px;"> </div> <div class="thegrid two-thirds"> <h5>Solitary</h5> <p class="small">The United States is a nation of second chances, but the experience of solitary confinement too often undercuts that second chance. Solitary confinement is increasingly overused with heartbreaking results – which is why the President directed the Attorney General to review the overused of solitary confinement across U.S. prisons. In response to that review, the President banned solitary confinement for juveniles and as a response to low-level infractions in the federal prison system, expanded treatment for the mentally ill, and increased the amount of time inmates in solitary in federal prisons can spend outside of their cells.</p> <p class="small">LEARN MORE:</p> <ul> <li><p class="small"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/barack-obama-why-we-must-rethink-solitary-confinement/2016/01/25/29a361f2-c384-11e5-8965-0607e0e265ce_story.html">Read the President’s Op-Ed on why we must rethink solitary confinement.</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/the-press-office/2016/03/01/presidential-memorandum-limiting-use-restrictive-housing-federal">Read the Presidential Memorandum Limiting the Use of Restrictive Housing by the Federal Government</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="https://www.justice.gov/restrictivehousing">Read the Department of Justice Report on solitary confinement</a></p></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block" style="width:100%;"> <div class="thegrid three"> <img src="/sites/default/files/image/cj_police2.jpg" alt="President Barack Obama greets Top Cops in the State Dining Room prior to a ceremony to honor the National Association of Police Organizations Top Cops award winners in the East Room of the White House, May 12, 2014" style="padding-right: 10px;"> </div> <div class="thegrid two-thirds"> <h5>Policing</h5> <blockquote>“I reject any narrative that seeks to divide police and communities that they serve.” -President Obama, 10/27/15, 122nd Annual IACP Conference.</blockquote> <p class="small">The Administration is committed to strengthening community policing and trust among law enforcement officers and the communities they serve and has invested more than $2 billion to retain or hire 10,000 police officers. Among other initiatives, the President created the Task Force on 21st Century Policing to develop a blueprint for building trust between law enforcement and communities, and the White House launched the Police Data Initiative.</p> <p class="small">LEARN MORE:</p> <ul> <li><p class="small"><a href="http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/policingtaskforce">Read the report and learn more about the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/blog/2015/10/27/police-data-initiative-5-month-update">Is your community part of the Police Data Initiative?</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/the-press-office/2015/05/18/fact-sheet-creating-opportunity-all-through-stronger-safer-communities">Learn more about the Administration’s work to make communities stronger and safer.</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/datadrivenjustice">Learn more about the Data-Driven Justice Initiative and how to get involved.</a></p></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block" style="width:100%;"> <div class="thegrid three"> <img src="/sites/default/files/image/cj_rentry.jpg" alt="President Obama listens to questions from workers at an event" style="padding-right: 10px;"> </div> <div class="thegrid two-thirds"> <h5>Reentry</h5> <p class="small">Each year, more than 600,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons. Advancing policies and programs that enable these men and women to put their lives back on track and earn their second chance promotes justice, fairness, and public safety.</p> <p class="small">LEARN MORE:</p> <ul> <li><p class="small"><a href="/the-press-office/2016/04/29/fact-sheet-during-national-reentry-week-reducing-barriers-reentry-and">Read about the Administration’s work to ensure formerly incarcerated individuals can successfully reintegrate into their communities.</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/issues/criminal-justice/business-pledge">Learn more about what you can do and sign the Fair Chance Business Pledge</a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="/photos-and-video/video/2015/07/16/president-obama-visits-el-reno-federal-correctional-institution">Watch President Obama visit El Reno Federal Correctional Institution, the first visit to a federal prison by a sitting President.</a></p></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="block" style="width:100%;"> <div class="thegrid three"> <img src="/sites/default/files/image/cj_policing.jpg" alt="" style="padding-right: 10px;"> </div> <div class="thegrid two-thirds"> <h5>Violent Crime</h5> <p class="small">Over the last 20 years, police have helped cut the violent crime rate and the homicide rate in America by almost half. The Administration continues to work with state and local law enforcement agencies to enhance public safety.</p> <p class="small">LEARN MORE:</p> <ul> <li><p class="small"><a href="https://www.bja.gov/Programs/VRN.html">Learn about the Violence Reduction Network, linking police departments with federal resources in some of the country’s most violence cities. </a></p></li> <li><p class="small"><a href="http://ojp.gov/newsroom/youthviolenceforum.htm">Read about the National Forum on Youth Violence, designed to reduce youth violence and gang activity.</a></p></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <style type="text/css"> p.small { font-size: 16px !important; line-height: 1.6 !important; } .longpage-section-wrapper .block{ border-bottom: 1px solid #cccccc; margin-bottom: 30px; } .longpage-section-wrapper .block:last-child{ border-bottom: 0; margin-bottom: 30px; } .longpage-main blockquote{ margin: 20px 10px; font-size: 16px; color: #666666; } </style> </div> </div> </div> <div id="section-352971" class="longpage-section longpage-section-basic layout-right-media clearfix"> <div class="longpage-section-wrapper"> <a class="section-anchor" name="section-video"></a> <h2 class="section-title">CC The Latest</h2> <div class="section-body"> <div class="press-wrap"> <div class="thegrid two"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wRQQieBI0AM?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="padding-right: 10px;"></iframe> </div> <div class="thegrid two"> <div><h2 class="press">Watch President Obama Discuss Building a Fairer and More Effective Criminal Justice System</h2></div> <p class="white"><a class="btn btn-white btn" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRQQieBI0AM" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube</a></p> </div> </div> </div>  <style type="text/css"> /* Grid Specs Start */ .thegrid { display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; } .thegrid.three { width: 33%; } .thegrid.two-thirds { width: 66%; } .thegrid.two { width: 49%; } .thegrid .image-wrapper { width: 100%; height: 0; padding-top: 56.25%; position: relative; text-align: center; } .thegrid .image-wrapper iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } .thegrid .image-caption { padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 16px; margin-right: -12px; } .thegrid .image-caption h5 { font-size: 18px; min-height: 46px; } .thegrid .image-caption h5 small { text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; } .thegrid .image-caption p { font-size: 15px; } .image-caption.description.left { margin-left: 16px; } @media screen and (max-width: 700px) { .image-caption.description.left { margin-left: 0px; } @media screen and (max-width: 700px) { .thegrid.two { width: 100%; } /* Grid Specs End */ </style> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div>  </div>    </div>   <div id="footer" class="layout-footer footer"> <div class="layout-footer-inner"> <div id="footer-region"> <div id="block-footer-iframe" class="block block-footer block-footer block-id-footer-iframe clearfix first odd"> <div class="block-inner"> <div class="content"> <iframe src="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/embeds/footer" scrolling="no" seamless="seamless"></iframe> </div> </div>  </div>  </div> </div>  </div>  </div>  <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> </body> </html>