The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.

commit crimes from being intoxicated by drugs or because of their mental health out of
prison and jails. Their focus is on reducing the prison population. They agree,
bipartisan, to do this by reducing prison sentences and adding reentry programs while
keeping it cost effective.
California
The recent governor of California proposed to reduce the population of prisons with
three new eligibility requirements approved by the public. Proposition 57 included on
policy for judge's approval on juvenile offenders being tried as an adult, changing the
eligibility requirements for adult with violent convictions allowing them to be granted
parole, and advising the prison system to be more lenient on the "good behavior" rules
for those incarcerated to be released early.
Colorado
Senate Bill 181 was created in 2016 and allows juveniles that were previously
sentenced to life without the option of parole to file for a resentencing hearing, in hopes
of reducing the prison population.
Connecticut
In August 2017, the governor passed a reform bill for the criminal justice system of
Connecticut. This bill included a bail reform to get ride of cash bail for misdemeanor
level and non-violent offenses. It also included a requirement of a criminal conviction
before seizing the asset(s) someone put up for bail. The governor also created "Second
Chance Society" to reduced the consequences of drug possession and offenders who
committed non-violent offenses to apply for parole or get their conviction pardoned.
Delaware
Delaware amended the "three-strikes" law by allowing more convictions before the
offender was sentenced under the law. Under Senate Bill 163 Delaware lowered the
sentencing requirement for the "three-strikes" law and is allowing offenders already
convicted to be resentenced. In 2016, Delaware also reformed their policy that made
people with convicted felonies to pay their fines off before they could vote. SB 242
allows convicted felons to vote without paying off their fines.
Florida
Florida reformed one of their sentencing policies in 2016. Aggravated assault is no
longer a crime that sentences a 10 to 20 or 20 to Life mandatory minimum statue, under
SB 228.
Georgia
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