Sen. Young announces support for criminal justice reform bill

U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) announced Tuesday his support for criminal justice reform legislation recently proposed in Congress.

The First Step Act (S.3649) would reduce federal recidivism and crime, prepare inmates for a successful return to society, enhance prison security and officer safety, and reform federal criminal sentencing. Young is among the senators who are co-sponsors of the bill.

“The First Step Act will make needed reforms to our criminal justice system to reduce recidivism, create fairer sentencing requirements, and prepare inmates to be successful members of society,” Young said. “I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and I will continue working with Indiana stakeholders to ensure that it accomplishes its goal creating a fairer and more effective criminal justice system, and ensuring non-violent inmates become successful, law-abiding citizens when they return to society.”

The First Step Act has the support of many Indiana groups including the Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police.

“The Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police would like to thank Senator Young for signing on to the First Step Act. The National Fraternal Order of Police worked closely with the Trump Administration to draft legislation that would enable offenders who pose little risk of recidivism to be able to get the tools they need to productively rejoin society when they leave the criminal justice system. The FOP played a key role in making sure that dangerous offenders will remain where they belong-behind bars,” Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President William Owensby said.

It is also supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration, National District Attorneys Association, National Governors Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Americans for Tax Reform, American Legislative Exchange Council, American Conservative Union, American Correctional Association, Freedom Works, and others.