“Violent crime—a crippling public health epidemic destroying communities across America—disproportionately affects communities of color. This impairs efforts to create economic growth and increases government expenses related to investigation, prosecution, and incarceration of offenders—in turn perpetuating the cycle of crime and violence as offenders struggle re-enter society. America jumped from 500,000 incarcerated individuals in 1980 to 2.2 million today, a 440 percent increase over 35 years. Our country leads the world in incarceration rate, a sad commentary on a nation founded on the principles of liberty.
“All levels of government and society recognize that the simplistic idea of ‘arresting’ our way out of the crisis does not suffice; the cure lies in prevention and rehabilitation.”