Received this e-mail today from Senator Cory Booker (D. NJ):
America has a justice problem.
We’ve parted from the principle that we are a nation founded on second chances at opportunity, and ushered in an era of mass incarceration that squanders human potential. It's a mistake we pay for with our tax dollars, reduced safety, and broken families.
This week, I'm introducing legislation with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky to help fix this problem. The REDEEM Act will give Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes a second chance at the American Dream after they've paid their dues: A fair shot to reenter society, find a job, support their families, and reach their potential.
I'm standing up to say that rehabilitation isn't just better policy -- it's a moral imperative. Will you stand with me?
Tell members of Congress: our justice system should rehabilitate, not just incarcerate.
http://act.corybooker.com/...
We spend over a quarter trillion dollars per year of our tax money on our criminal justice system. We see two out of every three people released get arrested again within three years. We watch the next generation suffer as one out of every 28 American children grows up with a parent in prison.
America should not lead the globe in incarcerating the nonviolent. We should lead in empowering our citizens -- even those who have made mistakes -- to succeed.
I don't believe this is a partisan issue. I didn't often agree with President Bush, but he said it right in his 2004 State of the Union address: "America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life."
It's time for words like this to result in real action in Washington. We have an urgent need to fix our broken justice system, and the work must begin now. Together, we can take action to save taxpayer dollars, make our communities safer, and align our criminal justice system with the values that make our nation great.
I hope I can count on you to join me:
http://act.corybooker.com/...
I’m glad we’re in this together -- it’s the only way for us to succeed.
All the best,
Cory Booker
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http://act.corybooker.com/...