Criminal Justice Reform

To see video of Congresswoman Lee speaking on this issue, click here.

“Our criminal justice systems are sorely in need of reform. We must provide formerly incarcerated individuals with the necessary skills to earn a living wage and find stable employment, so that they may successfully reenter the community. And, we must end the cycle of injustice that is perpetuated by a system that continues to punish people, long after they have paid their debt to society.”

                                                                                                                            - Congresswoman Barbara Lee

At over 2.3 million, the United States has the highest prison population in the world, the vast majority of which are non-violent offenders. The criminal justice system also disproportionately impacts communities of color. African-American males make up six percent of the total population, but account for 48 percent of the prison population. Eighty two percent more Latinos are incarcerated than whites. 

Rates of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS among inmates in prisons are also higher than among the general population. Without proper healthcare services in prisons and referral services for inmates who are released back into their communities, these diseases may spread further.

While more than 95 percent of all offenders are released from prison, they face significant obstacles to finding work and housing and successfully returning to their communities. The lack of adequate rehabilitation and programs to facilitate reentry leads to recidivism and more crime.

As a member of Congress, Congresswoman Lee has continued her fight for criminal justice reform she began as a member of the California State Legislature. She is a member of the Public Safety, Sentencing and Incarceration Reform Caucus and has led efforts to create a comprehensive and bipartisan plan to reform reentry programs, to reinstate the right to vote for ex-offenders and to provide for federal record expungement. She has worked with community organizations and local courts to establish programs to help ex-offenders clear up criminal records and successfully return to the community.

Sponsored Legislation

•    H.R. 178: The JUSTICE Act of 2007 – Allows community organizations to distribute condoms and to provide counseling and prevention education regarding sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) within federal prisons, and requires the Attorney General to develop and implement a five year strategy to reduce the prevalence and spread of STI’s in state, territorial and federal correctional facilities based on a survey of best practices regarding prevention, testing, care, treatment, and referral services.

•    H.R. 5802: Food Assistance to Improve Reintegration Act of 2008 (FAIR Act) – Repeals the automatic disqualification prohibiting ex-offenders from being eligible to receive food stamps.

Co-Sponsored Legislation

•    H.R. 1593: The Second Chance Act of 2007(Enacted into law) – Expands provisions for adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects to assist ex-offenders and their families with their reentry into society.

•    H.R. 1082: The Safe Babies Act of 2007 – Directs the establishment of a National Court Teams Resource Center to: (1) promote the well-being of maltreated infants and toddlers and their families; (2) prevent the recurrence of abuse and neglect; (3) promote timely reunification of families or other permanency outcomes for maltreated infants and toddlers in foster care.

•    H.R. 1592: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 – Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years on any person who willfully causes bodily injury to any person, or who, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily harm to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of such person. Also authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state, local, and Indian law enforcement agencies for extraordinary expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.

•    H.R. 1700: COPS Improvements Act of 2007 – Expands the authority of the Attorney General to make grants for public safety and community oriented policing services (COPS ON THE BEAT or COPS program) to provide for the hiring of 50,000 new police officers over the next 6 years, for school-based partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and schools to combat crime, gangs, drug activities, and for innovative programs to reduce and prevent illegal drug manufacturing, distribution, and use.

•    H.R. 4545: Drug Sentence Reform and Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007 – Eliminates the mandatory minimum sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine and establishes a grant program to provide substance abuse treatment to people in prison.

For more information contact the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee at 202-225-2661 or send a message from my email gateway at lee.house.gov