USCCB, Catholic Charities officials back legislation on reform of prison sentencing
April 16, 2015
The chairman of the Domestic Justice and Human Development Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the president-elect of Catholic Charities USA expressed support the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2015 and the CORRECTIONS Act, whose full name is the Corrections Oversight, Recidivism Reduction, and Eliminating Costs for Taxpayers in Our National System Act of 2015.
“Rigid sentencing policies for non-violent offenses are costly, ineffective and can be detrimental to the good of persons, families and communities,” Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami and Sister Donna Markham said in their letter of support for the Smarter Sentencing Act. “Prolonged incarceration contributes to family instability and poverty.”
The CORRECTIONS Act, they added, also deserves support, as it “calls for partnerships with faith-based, community and non-profit organizations to provide recidivism reduction and recovery programs on a paid and volunteer basis.”
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Further information:
- Catholic Leaders Express Support For Smarter Sentencing, CORRECTIONS Acts (USCCB)
- Full text of letter on Smarter Sentencing Act (USCCB)
- Full text of letter on CORRECTIONS Act (USCCB)
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Apr. 18, 2015 8:31 PM ET USA
Here is another polemic about hard sentences for non-violent crime. Crime in itself is violence against the person upon whom it is acted. So the violence may be in the eye of the beholder. Identity theft is considered a non-violent crime yet look at the pain it can cost. Thief should be sentenced to a long term in prison and not let go to do it again after a short period.
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Posted by: aclune9083 -
Apr. 16, 2015 10:42 PM ET USA
The goal is worthy if it finds a magical way to seek out and change the lives of those able to be rehabilitated from those who will not be rehabilitated. Would it not be better for the resources expended in this wind-mill joust be expended to halt the modern genocide of abortion?
