Hi, everybody. Thirty years ago, there were 500, 000 people behind bars in America. Today, there are 2. 2 million. The United States is home to 5 percent of the world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prisoners. Every year, we spend $80 billion to keep people locked up.
Now, many of the folks in prison absolutely belong there-our streets are safer thanks to the brave police officers and dedicated1 prosecutors2 who put violent criminals behind bars. But over the last few decades, we've also locked up more non-violent offenders3 than ever before, for longer than ever before. That's the real reason our prison population is so high.
Ever since I was a Senator, I've talked about how, in too many cases, our criminal justice system is a pipeline4 from underfunded schools to overcrowded jails. And we've taken steps to address it. We invested in our schools to give at-risk young people a better shot to succeed. I signed a bill reducing the 100 to 1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine5. I've commuted6 the sentences of dozens of people sentenced under old drug laws we now recognize were unfair. The Department of Justice has gotten "Smart on Crime," refocusing efforts on the worst offenders, and pursuing mandatory7 minimum sentences less frequently.
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Still, much of our criminal justice system remains8 unfair. In recent years, more of our eyes have been opened to this truth. We can't close them anymore. And good people, of all political persuasions9, are eager to do something about it.
Over the next few weeks, 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 prescription10 drug and heroin11 abuse. I'll speak with leaders from law enforcement who are determined12 to lower the crime rate and the incarceration13 rate, and with police chiefs who have dedicated their careers to keeping our streets and officers safe. I'll meet with former prisoners who are earning their second chance.
And I'll keep working with lawmakers from both parties who are determined to get criminal justice reform bills to my desk. Earlier this month, Democrats14 and Republicans came together in the Senate to introduce such a bill-one that would reduce mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenders, and reward prisoners with shorter sentences if they complete programs that make them less likely to commit a repeat offense15. There's a similar bill working its way through the House, and I'm encouraged by these kinds of bipartisan efforts. This is progress-not liberal ideas or conservative ideas, but common-sense solutions to the challenges we face.
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From the halls of Congress to the classrooms in our schools, we pledge allegiance to one nation under God with liberty, and justice, for all. Justice means that every child deserves a chance to grow up safe and secure, without the threat of violence. Justice means that the punishment should fit the crime. And justice means allowing our fellow Americans who have made mistakes to pay their debt to society, and re-join their community as active, rehabilitated16 citizens.
Justice has never been easy to achieve, but it's always been worth fighting for. And it's something I'll keep fighting for as long as I serve as your president.
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
1 dedicated
adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的
参考例句：
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He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。 His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。
2 prosecutors
检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人
参考例句：
In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句 You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。
3 offenders
n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）
参考例句：
Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。 Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法 。
4 pipeline
n.管道，管线
参考例句：
The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。 A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。
5 cocaine
n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）
参考例句：
That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。 Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。
6 commuted
通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 )； 减（刑）； 代偿
参考例句：
His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment. 他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。 The death sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment. 死刑可能減为无期徒刑。
7 mandatory
adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者
参考例句：
It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。 There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。
8 remains
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。 The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
9 persuasions
n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰
参考例句：
To obtain more advertisting it needed readers of all political persuasions. 为获得更多的广告，它需要迎合各种政治见解的读者。 来自辞典例句 She lingered, and resisted my persuasions to departure a tiresome while. 她踌躇不去，我好说歹说地劝她走，她就是不听。 来自辞典例句
10 prescription
n.处方，开药；指示，规定
参考例句：
The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。 The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。
11 heroin
n.海洛因
参考例句：
Customs have made their biggest ever seizure of heroin.海关查获了有史以来最大的一批海洛因。 Heroin has been smuggled out by sea.海洛因已从海上偷运出境。
12 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
13 incarceration
n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭
参考例句：
He hadn't changed much in his nearly three years of incarceration. 在将近三年的监狱生活中，他变化不大。 来自辞典例句 Please, please set it free before it bursts from its long incarceration! 请你，请你将这颗心释放出来吧！否则它会因长期的禁闭而爆裂。 来自辞典例句
14 democrats
n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。 The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 offense
n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪
参考例句：
I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。 His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。
16 rehabilitated
改造（罪犯等）( rehabilitate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使恢复正常生活； 使恢复原状； 修复
参考例句：
He has been rehabilitated in public esteem. 公众已恢复对他的敬重。 Young persons need to be, wherever possible, rehabilitated rather than punished. 未成年人需要受到尽可能的矫正而不是惩罚。
《奥巴马讲话 呼吁进行司法改革》添加时间：2024-12-14；更新时间：2025-03-09
