The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S.2123) was introduced in the Senate by the Judiciary Committee on October 1, 2015 but was not enacted. It died with the 114th congress. The House of Representatives version, the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 3713) also died with the 114th congress. The sponsors of both bills believed that sentencing reform would reduce incarceration rates.

Take a position. Do you agree that sentencing reform is needed to lower incarceration rates?

First, title your initial post either “Sentencing reforms should be enacted” or “Sentencing reforms should not be enacted.”

Then, using the information gained in this module and the resources noted above, make your case. Be sure to build your case with factual resources. Consider the following questions as you make your case:

• Do you believe that criminal sentencing laws have led to increased incarceration rates? Why or why not? What are the pros and cons of sentencing reform?
• What are the predicted outcomes of each?
• Should judicial discretion be included as a sentencing reform? Why or why not?

In response to your peers, consider how well they justified their positions, making use of available resources. Consider the following questions in your responses to posts:

• Did they support their position convincingly with appropriate resources?
• Which of their points make the most sense to you, even if you made a case for the opposing viewpoint?

References

Congress. (2015). S.2123: Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2123Congress. (2015). H.R.3713: Sentencing Reform Act of 2015. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3713Govtrack. (2015). H.R. 3713 (114th): Sentencing Reform Act of2015. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr3713/summaryGovtrack. (2015). S. 2123 (114th): Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s2123/summary