O'Malley pledges criminal justice reform.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley stressed his urban affairs experience as Baltimore mayor as he pledged Friday to improve race relations and the criminal justice system.
The nation has moved toward racial justice, “but we are not there yet,” the former Maryland governor told a National Urban League presidential forum, citing recent killings and abuse involving police officers.
“In our country, there is no such thing as a spare American,” O’Malley said.
While other candidates have talked about criminal justice reform, O’Malley said, “I have actually done it.”
In outlining a criminal justice agenda, O’Malley pledged to change sentencing laws so that punishments fit crimes and to end racial disparities in sentencing, including crimes involving crack and powder cocaine.
O’Malley, who is lagging far behind in Democratic polls, also called for an end to the death penalty.
His criminal justice agenda also includes rehabilitation programs for prisoners and efforts to help convicts find jobs after they are released.
O’Malley also called for improvements in policing and “the way we police police.” He said the government should encourage creation of civilian review boards across the country to review police conduct.
http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/07/31/omalley-pledges-criminal-justice-reform/
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