https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-set-endorse-sentencing-reform-legislation/story?id=59195616/

President Trump endorses major prison, sentencing reform legislation.

The president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has contributed to the reform push.  November 14, 2018 .

President Donald Trump announced his support for prison and sentencing reform legislation with his son-in-law Jared Kushner at a White House event Wednesday afternoon.
“Today I’m thrilled to announce my support for this bipartisan bill that will make our communities safer, and give former inmates a second chance at life after they served their time,” Trump said.
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The president hailed the reforms as a bipartisan achievement.
“This group reached a bipartisan agreement — did I hear the word bipartisan? the president said to applause from Republican lawmakers and supporters of the legislation in the room. “That’s a nice word, bipartisan agreement on prison reform legislation known as,[ the first step ] and that is what it is. It’s a first step but it’s a very big first step.”
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The president said the bill would “roll back” certain provisions of “the Clinton crime law that disproportionately harmed the African-American community.”. [edited-Lance Roman.]

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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/trump-praised-pro-black-white-house-prison-reform-event-n896526

Trump praised as ‘pro-black’ at White House prison reform event
“This is probably going to be… the most pro-black president I’ve seen in my lifetime,” said Pastor Darrell Scott, a supporter of the president.

President Trump focused on efforts to reform the prison system Wednesday, meeting with faith leaders and lawmakers at the White House.
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In a roundtable discussion with nearly 20 inner city pastors and faith leaders, Trump touted a low unemployment rate and booming economy that he said would make it easier for former prisoners to reintegrate into society.
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“We have passed the First Step Act through the House and we are working to pass that into law, and I think we’ll be able to do it. When we say ‘hire American,’ we mean all Americans,” the president told a group that included Trump supporters Paul White-Cain, Alveda King and Pastor Darrell Scott, along with celebrity pastor John Gray. White House chief of staff General John Kelly and son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner were also present.
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The House passed the bipartisan prison reform bill in May.
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Following Wednesday’s event, Trump met with a group of lawmakers to discuss the issue. The group, which met behind closed doors, included GOP prison and sentencing reform advocates such as Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
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The largely pro-Trump group present at the public event praised the president for his efforts on criminal justice reform and the economy. “This is probably the most pro-active administration regarding urban America and the faith-based community in my lifetime,” said Scott, a Trump surrogate during the 2016 campaign.
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“This president actually wants to prove something to our community, our faith-based community and our ethnic community. The last president didn’t feel like he had to. He got a pass,” he added, referring to President Obama. “This is probably going to be… the most pro-black president I’ve seen in my lifetime.”
Image: Darrell Scott
Pastor Darrell Scott, a Trump supporter, compared the president’s outreach efforts favorably to President Obama’s.Andrew Harnik / AP
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Trump, who has said improving life in urban areas is a priority, boasted that he has “done far more for inner cities than anyone else.” As a candidate in 2016, he drew controversy for comparing safety in the nation’s urban areas unfavorably to that in Afghanistan.
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In May, Trump held a prison reform summit, meeting with activists and former inmates.
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Weeks later, he met with reality star Kim Kardashian West, who lobbied him to pardon Alice Marie Johnson, a 63 year old grandmother who was serving a life sentence for drug charges. After Trump pardoned Johnson, he asked NFL players for recommendations on others who should be given clemency.
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Trump has since promised more pardons, saying the administration was looking at thousands of cases where he believed people had been treated unfairly, or received too harsh a sentence.
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However, his administration’s efforts on the issue, spearheaded by Kushner, have focused more on support for programs providing rehabilitation and job training for inmates, rather than sentencing reform.
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Gray told NBC News after the meeting that the discussion was a “first step.”
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“I can’t speak for everyone in the room. I came in with my mouth closed and my ears open out of respect because as we know there has been a lot of great pain and turmoil in the first part of this administration from many different sides. So my job was not to come in with my own mindset and issue. That was not a partisan issue, but a human issue.”. [ ]

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https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-championed-reforms-providing-hope-forgotten-americans/

President Donald J. Trump Has Championed Reforms That Are Providing Hope to Forgotten Americans.

The roaring economy of the Trump presidency has, for the first time ever, given many former prisoners the ability to get a great job and a fresh start. This second chance at life is made possible because we passed landmark criminal justice reform into law.
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ACHIEVING LANDMARK JUSTICE REFORMS: President Donald J. Trump championed the First Step Act, delivering the largest reform of our justice system in years.
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President Trump signed the groundbreaking First Step Act into law in 2018, enacting historic reforms to make our justice system fairer for all.
The First Step Act addressed outdated, failed policies that were long overdue for reform.
This legislation eliminated the “three strikes” life sentencing provision for some offenses, expanded judges’ discretion in sentencing of non-violent crimes, and more.
The First Step Act is helping inmates successfully return to society by expanding access to rehabilitative programs.
These programs address the risks and needs of each prisoner to promote rehabilitation.
The President’s budget includes more than $400 million to expand access to First Step Act programs.
President Trump’s approach is smart on crime, providing inmates an opportunity to succeed while making our communities safer.
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OFFERING A SECOND CHANCE AT THE AMERICAN DREAM: Second chance hiring offers former inmates the opportunity to gain rewarding careers and enjoy the dignity of work.
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President Trump has promoted second chance hiring to build on the reforms of the First Step Act and provide opportunity for all Americans.
President Trump launched the Federal Interagency Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry Council to create more second chances for those returning home from prison.
Second chance hiring helps inmates live crime-free lives and find meaningful employment.
The Administration is working to expand Pell Grants to provide education and training to inmates prior to release, helping them secure family-sustaining jobs.
The Administration launched a “Ready to Work Initiative” to help connect employers directly with former prisoners and expand employment opportunities.
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LEAVING NO AMERICANS BEHIND: President Trump’s pro-growth policies are ushering in an economic revival that is lifting up forgotten Americans and leaving no one behind.
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The unemployment rates for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans have all reached record lows under President Trump.
Wages are rising, with low income workers seeing the fastest gains.
Nearly 2.5 million Americans have been lifted out of poverty, with the poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans falling to new lows in 2018.
President Trump has advanced workforce development to ensure everyone can seize on the opportunities created in this booming economy.
President Trump’s Pledge to America’s Workers has prompted companies to pledge employment and education opportunities for nearly 15 million Americans.
Americans who had been left behind are coming off the sidelines, with nearly three-quarters of Americans gaining employment coming from outside of the labor force.    [edited-Lance Roman.]