The Jess Fields Show

#20 - Marc Levin - Reforming the the Criminal Justice System

June 19, 2020 Jess Fields Episode 20
The Jess Fields Show
#20 - Marc Levin - Reforming the the Criminal Justice System
Show Notes

We interview Marc Levin, the Chief of Policy and Innovation for the Right on Crime Initiative at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Levin is a nationally-recognized criminal justice reform advocate and researcher who has met with both President Obama and President Trump about his ideas.

Levin walks us through an enormous amount of information on criminal justice reform, including a substantial amount of studies and research related to racial disparities in the criminal justice system. This topic could not be any more relevant given the recent calls for reform in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

Marc asks the question of what would have happened to George Floyd, or to any other black man without resources, if he had not died? The criminal justice system, as he points out via research, is rife with disparities.

For a detailed discussion of the disparities related to race and income after an arrest occurs, go to about 1:01:00 in the interview.

He also explains how he has managed to get Republicans and conservatives on board with criminal justice reform, often considered a left-wing issue, and identifies clear opportunities for future reform of the criminal justice system.

This interview cites many studies and research papers, allowing for further research on the issue if you are interested.

This interview is coming out on Juneteenth, an appropriate time if ever to discuss the state of criminal justice reform and how that affects the black community.

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