But one much overlooked decision broke with that familiar ideological divide. And it should give Americans hope that — at least on some issues — left and right in this country can still come together.
In addition to showing that partisan divisions aren’t always entrenched, the Concepcion decision last month was welcome news for thousands of people behind bars and their loved ones — for anyone, in fact, who believes in second chances.
Concepcion believed that his sentence should have been reduced under the revised guidelines. He also argued that he deserved a reduced sentence because a prior conviction was vacated, and because he had shown spiritual and personal growth while incarcerated, including during his participation in a rehabilitation program for inmates. A federal judge, and later an appeals court, disagreed, saying they were compelled to apply the guidelines in place at the time of his sentencing.
In essence, the Court opened the door to second chances for countless incarcerated people.
The legislation currently enjoys filibuster-proof, bipartisan support in the Senate, which means passage is virtually certain. Once that chamber holds a vote on the bill, it will go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law, affording judges even more latitude to reduce sometimes-unfair and onerous sentences.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Concepcion could mean reduced sentences for thousands of people. It also means that the Court just made it easier to reward those who take steps to better themselves. And allowing judges to take new information into account will help ensure that rehabilitation becomes the main point of our criminal justice system.
Helping people transform their lives reduces crime. It keeps us all much safer than simply locking people behind bars with no hope for the future. If members of a deeply divided Supreme Court can recognize this, then surely the rest of us can as well.
Deep divisions within our country over issues like reproductive freedom mean that it’s more important than ever that we work together on issues where liberals and conservatives agree. Criminal justice reform is clearly one such area.
We believe that the Court’s Roe v. Wade decision was a travesty. Millions of Americans who love the country as much as we do, however, disagree. We believe — despite such disagreements — we can still find a way to work together to make this country better on the issues where Americans of all political persuasions see eye to eye.
Criminal justice reform has been one of the few bipartisan bright spots of the last few years, uniting Democrats, Republicans, former president Donald Trump, our current President Joe Biden and now, a bipartisan coalition of justices on the US Supreme Court.
Despite the partisan rancor of this current political moment, a left-right coalition has emerged to tilt our justice system toward rehabilitation and away from a “lock ’em up” mentality.
We need more of that energy now.