Explain changes in the official policy toward corrections with the election of Donald Trump to the presidency.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions came into office in 2017 with a very different approach to sentencing and corrections policy than that of his predecessor. He opposed reducing prison sentences, argued for increasing the use of incarceration for violations of even minor drug laws and advocated for more incarceration of undocumented persons. Sessions wants to cut back federal funding for public defenders and those attorneys who litigate on behalf of inmates. Sessions is a big supporter of privately operated prisons. He would restrict not expand inmates' rights that are protected under the U.S. Constitution. He favors the forfeiture of assets of those accused but not necessarily convicted of crimes. Sessions is unlikely to propose increased funding to help prisoners reintegrate into society. President Donald Trump promotes the notion that violent crime is out of control and that we need to get "much tougher" with street criminals. Under the Obama administration, there was renewed impetus to rediscover the potential of rehabilitation and treatment in corrections. With Trump in the White House, many fear that policy will be reversed. Further expansion of rehabilitation in corrections will rely on elected officials at the state and local level.