Rafael Mangual writes in the National Review:
The notion that America's criminal-justice system regularly locks up otherwise harmless people for minor drug crimes -- and does so largely because of thinly veiled racism -- has become a central article of progressive faith. It was thus not surprising to hear Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren invoke the notion at the liberal We the People Summit earlier this week. What's breathtaking, however, is the scope of Warren's error. In response to a loaded question from the audience about how the system "criminalize[s] poverty and communities of color," Warren replied:[Criminal-justice reform] starts on the front end, with the activities we criminalize -- for example, low-level drug offenses. More people [are] locked up for low-level offenses on marijuana than for all violent crimes in this country. That makes no sense at all. No sense at all. [Emphasis added.]She's right, it doesn't make sense -- because it's not true. In fact, it's so at odds with the publicly available data that one can only conclude that Warren is either totally unlettered on the subject or was willfully deceiving the audience.
Wells wasn’t supposed to be out on the street.
In 2004, he was convicted of aggravated manslaughter
in the shooting death of a 22-year-old man. He’d received an
18-year sentence, which meant he would be out on the street in 2022.
However, while in prison, he had a further 6 years tacked-on after pleading
guilty to a 2nd-degree racketeering charge related to helping run a gang
in prison [so unless concurrent, 2028?].
However, in February, Wells was released.
The governor in February reconvened the state Criminal Justice &
Disposition Commission to review sentencing guidelines to see how the
state can lower sentences for petty drug crimes and non-violent offenders.
“New Jersey has the shameful distinction of having the largest black-white incarceration gap of any state in the country,” the NJ Governor’s official
website reads. “Governor Murphy will address this problem by bringing
law enforcement and the community together .."
"He will end mass incarceration by pursuing the legalization of marijuana
and comprehensively reviewing all criminal sentencing laws. Governor
Murphy will also ensure that all of our communities are safe.”
He seems to have failed on this last count. On Sunday,
at roughly 3 a.m., 33-year-old Tahaji Wells [who is black]
opened fire at the Art All Night festival in Trenton, the state
capital. One person was killed and 22 were injured, according
to Fox News. KYW-TV reported that .. [o]ne of the wounded is
reported to be 13-years-old. The shooting is believed to be gang-related.
~ https://www.westernjournal.com/ct/nj-gov-calls-for-more-gun-laws-after-early-released-murderer-goes-on-killing-rampage/ff_source=Email&ff_medium=patriotupdate&ff_campaign=dailyam&ff_content=libertyalliance
~ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5856575/Trenton-gunman-opened-fire-festival-gang-member-early-release-prison-MURDER.html