Criminal Justice Reform: Strategic Approaches for a Just System
Overview: The Need for Reform
The United States justice system has been under intense scrutiny concerning its overall efficacy and racial disparities. In particular, the needs for criminal justice reform have never been more pressing. For years, the application of a ‘tough on crime’ stance in law enforcement has resulted in mass incarceration, which disproportionately affects Black Americans and people of color. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the United States holds the highest incarceration rate worldwide, with over two million people behind bars.
The murder of George Floyd in 2020, coupled with the broader Black Lives Matter movement, has highlighted the deeply rooted problems within our criminal justice system. It has also sparked a comprehensive national debate about the importance of justice reform and the necessity for public safety measures to address systemic racism.
