“’We’ve learned that there are better ways to dealing with these problems than locking up someone for 20 or 30 years. You end up ruining their lives, ruining their families, hurting communities. And then when they try to reenter into society, they’re destitute.’
“The issue is one of the few on which President Barack Obama and many congressional Republicans appear to agree . White House aides continue to express confidence that a criminal justice overhaul bill will pass before the president leaves office in January. ”