Prison is an important and necessary component of the criminal justice system. It is, in many cases, necessary to incarcerate offenders who pose a danger to society even with strict and modern monitoring. That being said, the state should supervise offenders outside the prison walls if the interests of public safety and liberty are best served by forgoing incarceration. When implemented effectively, probation keeps neighborhoods safer, saves money, and produces more successful outcomes for nondangerous offenders. When taking into account risk level, recidivism rates for individuals who are sentenced to community supervision (also known as probation) are lower than for those who are incarcerated.
It’s Time For Feds To Give Non-Violent Offenders A Second Chance
When President Donald Trump appointed Alice Marie Johnson as his pardon czar, he sent a clear message to the nation: Accountability and second chances are not mutually exclusive. Our Founders understood this principle, and as America celebrates its 250th birthday, Congress has an opportunity to put it into action. Congress should advance legislation creating an...