Notable letter from criminal justice groups calling for robust implementation of the FIRST STEP Act's prison reforms
Via email today, I learned of this notable lengthy letter signed by an array of criminal justice groups addressing key issues related to the implementation of the prison reform components of the FIRST STEP Act. Because the full letter runs seven pages, I will provide the summary that appeared in the email that I received:
[T]his sign-on letter call[s] for the implementation of the First Step Act in a manner that is consistent with Congressional intent and the text of the statute. The letter, led by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, ACLU, and Justice Rountable, was addressed to the Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice Director David Muhlhausen, and makes the following three arguments:
(1) DOJ must appoint an appropriate “non-partisan non-profit” host organization with expertise in the study and development of risk and needs assessment tools to select and convene the members of the Independent Review Committee as required by the statute;
a. NIJ appointed The Hudson Institute — a conservative think tank with no visible expertise or experience in the study and development of risk and needs assessment systems — to host the IRC.
b. The Hudson Institute has selected at least three members for the IRC whom may not meet the stated criteria outlined in the statute.
(2) Neither the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) security classification system nor the current version of the Post Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA) should be adopted as a substitute for the Risk and Needs Assessment System required by the statute;
a. The BOP security classification and the PCRA were not designed to identify specific criminogenic needs and heavily relies on static factors that classify many people who do not go on to reoffend as high risk.
(3) The Bureau of Prisons must immediately begin providing rehabilitative programming.
Some of many prior related posts on FIRST STEP Act implementation:
- Might the US Sentencing Commission provide some real-time updates on the implementation of the FIRST STEP Act?
- FAMM sends letter to BOP and DOJ to urge full implementation of key provisions of the FIRST STEP Act
- "3 more steps to make 'First Step Act' work"
- Might White House provide "impact data" on FIRST STEP Act as Prez Trump celebrates the law next week?
- "Trump Celebrates Criminal Justice Overhaul, but His Budget Barely Funds It"
- Encouraging news and inspiring notes as White House celebrates FIRST STEP Act
- "Department of Justice Announces First Step Act Implementation Progress"
- A few comments on implementing the FIRST STEP Act in written testimony from AG William Barr
- Spotlighting concerns about organization tasked with helping Justice Department develop and implement risk and needs assessment tools under FIRST STEP Act
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