Hi, everybody. Thirty years ago, there were 500, 000 people behind bars in America. Today, there are 2. 2 million. The United States is home to 5 percent of the world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prisoners. Every year, we spend $80 billion to keep people locked up.
Now, many of the folks in prison absolutely belong there-our streets are safer thanks to the brave police officers and dedicated1 prosecutors2 who put violent criminals behind bars. But over the last few decades, we've also locked up more non-violent offenders3 than ever before, for longer than ever before. That's the real reason our prison population is so high.
Ever since I was a Senator, I've talked about how, in too many cases, our criminal justice system is a pipeline4 from underfunded schools to overcrowded jails. And we've taken steps to address it. We invested in our schools to give at-risk young people a better shot to succeed. I signed a bill reducing the 100 to 1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine5. I've commuted6 the sentences of dozens of people sentenced under old drug laws we now recognize were unfair. The Department of Justice has gotten "Smart on Crime," refocusing efforts on the worst offenders, and pursuing mandatory7 minimum sentences less frequently.
<a hReF=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNiform.html>家長推薦的蘇州吳中作文輔導(dǎo)班</a>
Still, much of our criminal justice system remains8 unfair. In recent years, more of our eyes have been opened to this truth. We can't close them anymore. And good people, of all political persuasions9, are eager to do something about it.
Over the next few weeks, I'll travel the country to highlight some of the Americans who are doing their part to fix our criminal justice system. I'll visit a community battling prescription10 drug and heroin11 abuse. I'll speak with leaders from law enforcement who are determined12 to lower the crime rate and the incarceration13 rate, and with police chiefs who have dedicated their careers to keeping our streets and officers safe. I'll meet with former prisoners who are earning their second chance.
And I'll keep working with lawmakers from both parties who are determined to get criminal justice reform bills to my desk. Earlier this month, Democrats14 and Republicans came together in the Senate to introduce such a bill-one that would reduce mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenders, and reward prisoners with shorter sentences if they complete programs that make them less likely to commit a repeat offense15. There's a similar bill working its way through the House, and I'm encouraged by these kinds of bipartisan efforts. This is progress-not liberal ideas or conservative ideas, but common-sense solutions to the challenges we face.
<a hRef=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNifoRm.Html>蘇州初中語文補習(xí)</a>
From the halls of Congress to the classrooms in our schools, we pledge allegiance to one nation under God with liberty, and justice, for all. Justice means that every child deserves a chance to grow up safe and secure, without the threat of violence. Justice means that the punishment should fit the crime. And justice means allowing our fellow Americans who have made mistakes to pay their debt to society, and re-join their community as active, rehabilitated16 citizens.
Justice has never been easy to achieve, but it's always been worth fighting for. And it's something I'll keep fighting for as long as I serve as your president.
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
1 dedicated
adj.一心一意的；獻(xiàn)身的；熱誠的
參考例句：
<a hReF=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNiform.hTml>家長推薦的蘇州吳中作文輔導(dǎo)班</a>
He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他獻(xiàn)身于教育事業(yè)。 His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改進(jìn)這項設(shè)計上了。
2 prosecutors
檢舉人( prosecutor的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )； 告發(fā)人； 起訴人； 公訴人
參考例句：
In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，檢察官是經(jīng)選舉而非任命產(chǎn)生的。 來自口語例句 You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在兩天以后被宣到了檢察官的辦公室。
3 offenders
n.冒犯者( offender的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )；犯規(guī)者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）
參考例句：
Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判處長期徒刑可對違法者起到強有力的威懾作用。 Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使從事有意義的勞動是管理少年犯的重要方法 。
4 pipeline
n.管道，管線
參考例句：
The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.該管道供給約旦15%的原油。 A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一條單管路給所有的房子供水。
5 cocaine
n.可卡因，古柯堿（用作局部麻醉劑）
參考例句：
That young man is a cocaine addict.那個年輕人吸食可卡因成癮。 Don't have cocaine abusively.不可濫服古柯堿。
6 commuted
通勤( commute的過去式和過去分詞 )； 減（刑）； 代償
參考例句：
His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment. 他的判決由死刑減為無期徒刑。 The death sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment. 死刑可能減為無期徒刑。
7 mandatory
adj.命令的；強制的；義務(wù)的；n.受托者
參考例句：
It's mandatory to pay taxes.繳稅是義務(wù)性的。 There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美國沒有強制帶薪年假。
8 remains
n.剩余物，殘留物；遺體，遺跡
參考例句：
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。 The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.殘羹剩飯喂狗了。
9 persuasions
n.勸說，說服（力）( persuasion的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )；信仰
參考例句：
To obtain more advertisting it needed readers of all political persuasions. 為獲得更多的廣告，它需要迎合各種政治見解的讀者。 來自辭典例句 She lingered, and resisted my persuasions to departure a tiresome while. 她躊躇不去，我好說歹說地勸她走，她就是不聽。 來自辭典例句
10 prescription
n.處方，開藥；指示，規(guī)定
參考例句：
The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.醫(yī)生給他開了個治暈船的藥方。 The drug is available on prescription only.這種藥只能憑處方購買。
11 heroin
n.海洛因
參考例句：
Customs have made their biggest ever seizure of heroin.海關(guān)查獲了有史以來最大的一批海洛因。 Heroin has been smuggled out by sea.海洛因已從海上偷運出境。
12 determined
adj.堅定的；有決心的
參考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已決定畢業(yè)后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他決定查看一下辦公室后面的房間。
13 incarceration
n.監(jiān)禁，禁閉；鉗閉
參考例句：
He hadn't changed much in his nearly three years of incarceration. 在將近三年的監(jiān)獄生活中，他變化不大。 來自辭典例句 Please, please set it free before it bursts from its long incarceration! 請你，請你將這顆心釋放出來吧！否則它會因長期的禁閉而爆裂。 來自辭典例句
14 democrats
n.民主主義者，民主人士( democrat的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )
參考例句：
The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主黨昨天在國會山召開了競選誓師大會。 The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主黨黨員組織了阻撓議事。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
15 offense
n.犯規(guī)，違法行為；冒犯，得罪
參考例句：
I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 對我講的話請別見怪。 His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的發(fā)言沖犯了在場的所有人。
16 rehabilitated
改造（罪犯等）( rehabilitate的過去式和過去分詞 )； 使恢復(fù)正常生活； 使恢復(fù)原狀； 修復(fù)
參考例句：
He has been rehabilitated in public esteem. 公眾已恢復(fù)對他的敬重。 Young persons need to be, wherever possible, rehabilitated rather than punished. 未成年人需要受到盡可能的矯正而不是懲罰。
《奧巴馬講話 呼吁進(jìn)行司法改革》添加時間：2024-12-14；更新時間：2025-03-09
