Scott to Host Criminal Justice Reform Forums in Richmond and Norfolk
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Today, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott announced that he will host Criminal Justice Reform forums in Richmond on Monday, August 10th and in Norfolk on Tuesday, August 11th. Congressman Scott will be joined by law enforcement officials, judges, and other criminal justice experts. These events are free and open to the public.
Richmond Criminal Justice Reform Forum
Monday, August 10, 2015
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church Imani Center
1506 Hull Street, Richmond, VA 23224
Norfolk Criminal Justice Reform Forum
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Murray Center
455 E Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510
In addition to hearing from experts in the criminal justice field, Congressman Scott will also discuss H.R. 2944, the Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act, legislation that he introduced earlier this summer with Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). The SAFE Justice Act takes a broad-based approach to improving the federal sentencing and corrections system, from front-end sentencing reform to back-end release policies. It is also the first bill that addresses the federal supervision system – ensuring that probation does a better job stopping the revolving door at federal prisons. The legislation, which is inspired by the successes of states across the country, will reduce recidivism, concentrate prison space on violent and career criminals, increase the use of evidence-based alternatives to incarceration, curtail over-criminalization, reduce crime, and save money.
In the weeks since its introduction, the SAFE Justice Act has garnered 40 bipartisan cosponsors, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. The bill has also attracted endorsements from groups across the political spectrum, including the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, Right on Crime, Koch Industries, Freedom Works, the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Police Foundation, and Families Against Mandatory Minimums. House Speaker John Boehner has also recently expressed his support for the legislation indicating that he would like to see the full House of Representatives consider it in the fall.
For more information about the SAFE Justice Act, please visit: /safejusticeact.
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