The Clintons Aren’t to Blame for Mass Incarceration

[BlueMTexpat]

The 1994 crime bill was wrongheaded and draconian. But it didn’t cause the explosion in the prison population.

Interesting counterpoint to much of what is being shouted by some of the "usual suspects" on DU:

But how much did Clinton-era policies on criminal justice actually contribute to mass incarceration? Some experts say their impact has been massively overstated—and that the 1994 bill in particular had much less of an effect on the prison population than Clinton’s detractors would have it. One expert who is skeptical of the 1994 bill’s influence is John Pfaff, a professor at Fordham University School of Law who studies prison policy from an empirical perspective. I called Pfaff to discuss the Alexander article, and the degree to which Hillary Clinton can be held to account for mass incarceration. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

[George II]

1. Not only that but neither Bill Clinton nor Hillary Clinton voted for it, but Bernie Sanders did!

Bernie Sanders was in the House at the time, he voted for it.

Hillary Clinton was First Lady, she had no vote.

Bill Clinton was President, he had no vote but he signed it into law.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. That gets lost in the shuffle,

n'est-ce pas?

[pandr32]

7. And let's not let that happen!

[bravenak]

2. It had started way before

Nixon was the brain behind that shit

[William769]

3. Of course not.

[yallerdawg]

5. Ask Michael Dukakis about 'law and order' issues.

The vast majority of incarcerations is at the state level. Each state makes a choice - punishment and revenge - or justice and mercy. Justice incudes rehabilitation and reentry into society.

Hillary, in her support of 'the crime bill', was not responsible for "mass incarcerations" - which, coincidentally, did result in the less crime the voters were clamoring for!

But now, Hillary recognizes and has a plan to address the inherent institutional racism in our total justice system.

[BlueMTexpat]

6. But Hillary is held responsible

for literally everything that has gone wrong with our society.

She is truly omnipotent.