PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Barack Obama says the United States can no longer close its eyes to the problems in its criminal justice system.
Obama is promoting the need for criminal justice reform at the NAACP’s annual convention in Philadelphia.
Obama says the statistics can’t be ignored. He says that in far too many cases, the punishment just doesn’t fit the crime. He says low-level drug dealers owe a debt to society — but not a life sentence.
The president says the good news is that Americans of all political parties are starting to realize the need for change. He’s urging Congress to act on criminal justice reform.
The speech comes the day after Obama cut the prison sentences of 46 nonviolent drug offenders. Obama plans to visit a federal prison on Thursday.
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