First Step Act - A Step Forward or Another Step Backward?
As much as I would like to view the “First Step Act” as some grand slam for criminal justice reform, if for no other reason than to honor the work put into its passage by Van Jones, I simply can not find justification for doing so, especially after a careful reading of H. R. 5682.
This bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA-9), not one of your more liberal congresspersons. His sponsorship begs the question, why would a conservative Georgia Republican sponsor legislation at its core that would cut short the time that federal prisoners would otherwise serve. Collins was able to get it out of the Judiciary Committee and onto the floor for a successful vote. This week the bill passed the Senate with an overwhelming 87–12 vote.
Let me hasten to say that I admire Van Jones. His grandfather the late Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop, Chester A. Kirkendall, in my mind, was one of the great intellects of the 20th century. I think Van represents the spirit of Bishop Kirkendall well.
In fact, I am a Christian Methodist today instead of a Colored Methodist because Bishop Kirkendall moved the 1956 Quadrangle Conference of Colored Methodists to change the name to accommodate one of his seminary professors at Chicago University.
