Criminal justice reform is now Obama's focus

By Curt Mills, Curt Mills

Published December 20, 2015

President Obama used his weekly address Saturday morning to focus on what he has promised will be a defining cause of the end of his presidency, as well as his post-presidency: criminal justice reform.

Obama announced a tour this week of regions of the country ravaged by crime, and the emerging problem of prescription drug abuse.

"I'll travel the country to highlight some of the Americans who are doing their part to fix our criminal justice system. I'll visit a community battling prescription drug and heroin abuse," Obama said. "I'll speak with leaders from law enforcement who are determined to lower the crime rate and the incarceration rate… I'll meet with former prisoners who are earning their second chance."

Obama highlighted the rare opportunity for biparstian consensus of the issue, "good people, of all political persuasions, are eager to do something about it. … I signed a bill reducing the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine."

Obama also noted the importance of education, and education reform in addressing the root of the problem. "Our criminal justice system is a pipeline from underfunded schools to overcrowded jails," he said.