What is Criminal Justice Reform: Punishment or Prevention?

The war on drugs. Mass incarceration. LWOP (Life without parole). These are all catch phrases the public has become aware of in the recent past.

Harsh policies like these have fallen out of favor but with the rise of gun violence and mid term elections around the corner, what is the fate of Criminal Justice Reform.

First, a definition. Reform consists of changes and improvements to law, social system, or institution.

Considering the United States has 4% of the worlds population and 25% of people incarcerated, it is time for an improvement.

Legal-Eagles has spoken with different organizations who legislate in Pennsylvania for repeal of harsh laws such as StraightAhead.org and Abolitionist Law Society. Lobbying and protesting are part of the change.

But make no mistake, it is a long hard slog. On the other hand, litigation means taking a case to court. Some of these organizations, as well as Legal Eagles commence what is called strategic litigation.

Strategic litigation is taking an individual case to court to clarify, amend, or extend the law in support of overall reform.

Here at Legal Eagles we are about "Legal Empowerment". Legal empowerment is about strengthening the capacity of all people to exerci

se their rights, either as individuals or members of a community-and ensuring that the law is available and meaningful to citizens.

Building a community is central to legal empowerment.