Sen. Rand Paul

It will come as no surprise to many Kentuckians that America’s criminal justice system is in desperate need of repair. Our nation’s laws should be focused on imprisoning the most dangerous and violent members of our society. Instead, our criminal justice system too frequently traps non-violent offenders, who are disproportionately African American men, in a cycle of poverty, unemployment and incarceration.



The unfortunate consequence of this type of system is an entire group of people facing almost insurmountable odds of ever rejoining society. The injustices within our system are potentially sentencing an entire generation of those who committed youthful mistakes to a future without the opportunity for rehabilitation.



These are serious issues that must be dealt with, which is why I’ve done something not many Republicans are willing to do. I’ve made criminal justice reform a priority. The fact that members of Kentucky’s General Assembly again have put forth criminal justice reform bills this session is encouraging news, and I hope they make these reforms a priority as well.

In the past year alone I’ve introduced bills addressing expungement, voting rights, mandatory minimum sentencing, racial disparities in sentencing laws, the militarization of our police force, body cameras for police, and civil asset forfeiture procedures. And I’ve used every opportunity I’ve had to loudly speak out on these issues.



In 2014, I testified in front of the Kentucky legislature in support of legislation addressing the restoration of voting rights for certain non-violent felons. I was also publicly supportive of expungement legislation for certain non-violent felons.



As I mentioned before, this is something I have pushed for on the federal level, and I applaud the members of the General Assembly for bringing this important issue back up during the 2016 session. I encourage them to keep this legislation moving, continue discussing it, and find a way to make these reforms possible in Kentucky as I do the same in Congress.



One of the key pieces of legislation I’ve introduced in the Senate is the REDEEM Act with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., to assist in providing opportunities for a fresh start to many non-violent offenders. As proposed, the legislation would restrict the use of juvenile solitary confinement, seal the federal criminal records of non-violent adult offenders, and allow for the expungement and sealing of criminal records of non-violent juveniles under certain circumstances.

Comment | Expungement bill offers second chances

Furthermore, the Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act, which I also introduced in the Senate, would restore voting rights in federal elections for all non-violent felons who have successfully completed their sentence.



By expanding the eligibility criteria for expungement, restoring voting rights to non-violent ex-offenders, and getting rid of mandatory minimum sentences, we can hopefully begin to solve some of the criminal justice system’s biggest problems.



These initiatives, both here in the commonwealth and in Congress, are a huge step in the right direction. If we’re trying to reincorporate individuals back into society, particularly those who have committed non-violent crimes, we need these reforms to provide opportunities for redemption and a path forward.



One of the biggest mistakes we’re making by abiding by the current system is letting one youthful mistake define someone for the rest of their life. By giving certain non-violent offenders the opportunity to hold a stable job and participate in society by voting we will begin repairing some of the serious issues that have plagued our criminal justice system for far too long.



We need to continue to push for these reforms if we want to make a difference in our communities and start solving problems at the source. In the end, it is my hope, that these – along with other reforms – will leave all of us with a brighter future for our commonwealth and our country.