A sociology professor at Iowa State University is raising concerns about a criminal justice reform bill approved in the U.S. Senate. Matt DeLisi says while it’s “probably a good thing” to try and reduce the prison population, lawmakers should understand many people who are released are likely to reoffend.
DeLisi says the behavioral histories of many offenders do not support their release from prison. For example, he notes the prevalence of psychopathy in the general U.S. population is only around one percent. It’s much different in prisons.
Five years ago, DeLisi testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that cutting prison sentences would put more offenders back on the streets and increase the crime rate. He’s now calling on Congress to give consideration to criminal history while weighing changes to sentencing guidelines. Supporters of the “First Step Act,” approved by a vote of 87-12 in the Senate, says it’s designed to reduce sentences for some low-level, nonviolent offenders.
