Former inmates detail life one year after passage of First Step Act

Thousands of former prisoners who thought they would spend Christmas behind bars are free, thanks to the First Step Act. President Trump signed the legislation into law last December. The act increases the number of good conduct time credits an inmate can earn per year. The U.S. Sentencing Commissions says the changes can help more than 140,000 people in prison. Jericka Duncan spoke with two former inmates who say they're still adjusting to their new freedom.
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[@dimvw484]

This is huge. Fathers returning home. Respect from Belgium.

[@angelesconsuelos762]

Wait wait wait.. Trump did this seriously?? .. Why am I JUST hearing of this a month BEFORE ELECTION. This is so EPIC💯 Nobody talks about this when they talk about TRUMP 🤷🏽‍♂️. I need to do more research before Nov 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@Gamer16232]

He brings it up at every debate and town hall. The mod doesn’t care because Orange Man Bad

[@scarlett2x]

The MSM are biased. They hate Trump.

[@Snatchyblitz]

he has done so much for Americans but the biased media only want you to believe he is a racist no good bigot, they continuously snip his and other conservatives speeches to push a false narrative which gets spread through all media platforms which the majority of the media is owned by liberals. If you look at bidens track record he has done much harm to Americans, he has said so many racist things in the past and even now , he has made terrible remarks about homosexuality as well and towards soldiers. he has lied countless times to make himself look good, he has lied about his policies as well.

[@futurereflections4097]

Should start on Kamala and Biden. Biden wrote the prison bill that did this to harmless people. Kamala did worse, kept people behind bars after their already unfair sentences were over It’s absolutely insane that the valid BLM protests resulted in electing 2 people most responsible for harshly and unfairly imprisoning people for nonviolent crimes over the president who tried to help.

[@lowkeybeat]

Obama did this trump got the bill top sign after the fact

[@Prezzo1990]

Thank you CBS for this mostly real news.

[@genedandy]

Prosecutors need to lay off this man and let him be.

[@GatCat]

“When incarcerated everything is free...” No! As an employed American I pay for that.

[@genedandy]

Casey Flentye got that right, but he got life imprisonment for money laundering and drug distribution. He did his time. 20 years is enough time. He can pay his own way now.

[@akzebraminer]

K C Nothing is free so when he says “free” I think it’s obvious what he means.

[@RemoteAdminJayJay2]

My only regret is he can't do 3 terms.

[@jjalarcon2147]

True but LOL.

[@RemoteAdminJayJay2]

@Rachel The Free Spirit fingers crossed

[@rogeliomedina8726]

I come from the future to tell you that Trump will only serve one term and out. He will also start a riot claiming that the election was stolen after he admitted in private that he lost but could not face it like a man. Cheers.

[@dicktipton5912]

I think trump did a great job on this topic. Very good

[@AuthorLHollingsworth]

Trump made a good move on this one.

[@WolfofBelgium]

Honestly this is amazing! Giving people a new chance!

[@drexlspivey3047]

It's a lie. Since signing this the department of Justice has done this 1 Argued in court against sentence reductions for inmates who should have been eligible 2 jeopardized entire act by not funding it properly 3 Reinstated DOJ contracts with private prisons 4 Disbanded program to create federal education systems in prisons 5 Closed halfway houses that help to transition inmates back into society 6 Prohibited federal investigations into unconstitutional policing 7 Eliminated community based violence based programs 8 Attacked prosecutors who are pursuing criminal justice reform at local level 9 Ordered federal prosecutors to seek harshest penalties possible 10 Started waging same failed drug war from the 1980s 11 Failed to report deaths in police custody 12 Expanded the federal use of civil assets forfeiture There are many more but I got a life to get back to.

[@veliciawilliams1081]

I think the “ Early Release” should be allowing the prisoners to gain a real life trade. ( cooking, carpentry, plumbing, masonry) . And they should not go back into the same place they were prior. There are many place around the US that will need their skill set.

[@MrTwillert]

Brother you shouldn’t have to feel like you need “go to work and go home”. I hope you find the freedom to feel like you can live again.

[@branon6565]

The DOJ and whatever prosecutors are tryin to appeal dudes release need to go on and find somethin else to do, LEAVE THAT MAN ALONE...they should try gardening or maybe takin a class or two on how not to be a complete d*ck, or whatever, just let dude live in relative peace....

[@GatCat]

“When incarcerated everything is free...” No! As an employed American I pay for that.

[@bigneon_glitter]

Yes. The corporations that own those prisons & the contractors who exploit prison labor for pennies on the dollar couldn't make billions in profit without your taxes.

[@jjalarcon2147]

Before you drive, look at your car. Take some time to think about who is making those license plates. These prisoners work inside the prisons.

[@oppazzgwala3700]

U also pay cops salary so you can blame them because they arrested these people for non violent offenses and place them in prison to take your hard earned money it’s just a reoccurring cycle.. on top of that prisons and jails are over crowded due to over sentencing more of a punishment than correction/rehabilitation like they claim💯

[@NamelessVoice808]

Actually, inmates have to work to qualify for FSA. The most an inmate can make a month is just shy of $200. They use this for commissary to get snacks and food, toiletries, shoes, and all kinds of items. So you are technically paying for the correctional officers salary to babysit people who could be on home confinement since they aren’t violent. Keep allowing for profit prisons and this will continue to be a problem. Prisons should never be for profit.

[@solomonjensen6057]

Put more power in the judges hands. Each situation is different. Get rid of mandatory minimums

[@ifeomaabiandu7496]

👍

[@scarlett2x]

So violent offenders too?

[@NamelessVoice808]

@@scarlett2xo, violent offenders don’t qualify for FSA. If you commit a crime with a gun, whether or not actually used, you don’t qualify either.

[@alanboyce7109]

money laundering is not a crime..it is an ex post facto violation of the constitutiion by charging someone for the same crime

[@adwoamk8918]

Look at the mentality, the idea that he has to be responsible for himself, is the most challenging thing.

[@FappinSteve]

Wait...So @00:28 he was sentenced nearly 20 years ago....And @2:18 he says he found out he had a son...But the son is 26? So the son was 6 when he went to prison and he didn't know about him then?

[@isaiahjordan5052]

@Honest Reviews sex visits..

[@CappenKrunch]

Trump makin moves 💯

[@dirkdiggler6082]

To pull in blacks

[@jackeilhigh]

This is beautiful and people say trump did nothing to help blacks wow.

[@truemutt]

140,000 that's amazing.

[@rembeadgc]

Interviewer did a fine job, but what do you expect the man to say when you ask him "Should people be afraid of you?"

[@Mike.GoldenTouch28]

Why is this hidden

[@ilanbandary4435]

You and I both know why.. it doesn't need to be said , 50k views ? Yeah it doesn't make sense.

[@jahborndarklight195]

Now we going to still keep dissing Trump the Demorats has done nothing

[@cw217]

Have*

[@rexmonroe8922]

I wonder why prosecutors try so hard to get them back in the system after release ? Especially if they aren’t violent offenders? Seems odd

[@NamelessVoice808]

Prosecutors need a job, so they use tax money to keep families apart when home confinement could have been a better choice.

[@eka67822]

It's unfortunately profitable, which is why we have the highest incarceration rate. The prisons provide free labor, many companies are still standing due to the funding the receiving for working with the prisons for food, construction, etc. The prison system is a huge institution of capitalism.

[@showme443]

If we are paying for people to be incarcerated why don't they teach trades for those who are going to be eligible for release in 10 years. That way they have something to give to society. So they can find jobs when they get out. Most prisons don't even allow you to get your diploma anymore.

[@NamelessVoice808]

They do have programs in the federal prisons, but not enough staff to run the trades programs and classes to get people out faster.

[@showme443]

@@NamelessVoice808 stop investing in foreign wars invest in your own. Try that

[@NamelessVoice808]

@@showme443 Not sure what you mean by your comment. I don’t invest in any war.

[@WilliamMai84]

Thanks CBS to showing this positive note on passing a Trump Act. Next step is some transition education and assistance for these people. Much better then Obama prisoner entrepreneurship.

[@bwuk2007]

guess whos voting for Trump?

[@capturethephotons2078]

I'm glad that people that have made mistakes, are able to get some sort of a second chance at life due to this act. They won't get the time back that they lost Behind Bars, but it's hope for the future. A chance to make it right before you leave this earth for these reformed gentleman and or women. We could thank President Donald Trump and bipartisan support for signing the bill and creating change in the world. 🇺🇸 ❤

[@capturethephotons2078]

I am not political by any means. I'm logical.

[@annalisette5897]

Legalize drugs. Tax them. No more "money laundering" and no more drug crimes.

[@annalisette5897]

@Eric W In the meantime, government may as well tax them and save money by releasing prisoners.

[@lawrencewashington9901]

Its not that simple I wouldn’t want everybody running around on drugs

[@matthewbrown5464]

Drugs are destructive. And most drugs, because of the illegality, have blood all over them. Every ounce or gram has been paid for by someone's life. Whether it be a smuggler or a drug lord or a kid who overdosed etc. someone had to die for that narcotic to reach consumers.

[@Jordan-ll5eq]

Air Nomad Matt The same could be said about alcohol but just like alcohol prohibition drug prohibition does not work. So why have we gotten rid of alcohol prohibition but we haven’t done it for any other drugs?

[@NamelessVoice808]

@@annalisette5897You can serve a sentence on home confinement and it would save billions.

[@Retslu]

I left prison behind 42 years ago after having been a life long criminal since I was 13. A prison school teacher told me God could change my life. I was at the end of my rope so to speak. Resign myself to prison for the rest of my life or turn it over to God. He changed me, He change the prison school teacher, Easter Sunday will mark our 40th Anniversary, and last night we spent Christmas Eve with my two daughters and their two children. No government program had any thing to do with my transformation. The men who are being released still have to prove that they can handle the change, freedom comes with a lot of responsibilities all which are dependent of them, not the government.

[@carlimuzquiz979]

That's great.

[@2611Lover]

This is basic and Obama did this with thr fair sentencing act.

[@scarlett2x]

They don't compare. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Sentencing_Act Trump and the 1st Step Act en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Step_Act amp.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article223414935.html amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/07/19/politics/first-step-act-prisoners-released-doj/index.html www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2020/02/trump-just-bragged-about-criminal-justice-reform-look-closer-at-how-his-administration-is-undoing-it/ www.propublica.org/article/trump-hailed-mississippi-prison-reforms-national-model-but-the-numbers-reflect-grim-reality/amp www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-2019-prison-reform-summit-first-step-act-celebration/ www.vox.com/platform/amp/future-perfect/2018/12/18/18140973/state-of-the-union-trump-first-step-act-criminal-justice-reform www.foxnews.com/politics/prisoners-first-step-act-criminal-justice-reform-trump-jobs-housing www.foxnews.com/entertainment/isaiah-washington-praises-donald-trump-criticizes-barack-obama-over-the-black-agenda www.foxnews.com/entertainment/greys-anatomy-star-isaiah-washington-opens-up-about-decision-to-leave-the-democratic-party m.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/14/tim-scott-no-doubt-that-president-trump-is-not-a-r/ nypost.com/2016/03/05/brother-of-late-civil-rights-activist-medgar-evers-endorses-trump/?+buttons&+buttons dailycaller.com/2018/12/17/black-americans-trump www.lifezette.com/2018/12/trump-signs-executive-order-to-help-impoverished-communities/ www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/10/25/donald-trump-jr-black-conservatives-942157 www.nationalreview.com/2018/11/republicans-do-right-by-black-americans/?Facebook&Social&Murdock kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIvHZqCQpamNd9U One of Trump's Critcs supports it. www.themarshallproject.org/2018/06/18/van-jones-answers-his-critics

[@baltimoreravens4eva560]

Once again, delusional trump supporters giving trump credit for something obama did

[@theragingcreeper9040]

500 a week.. thats more than i make..

[@muhammadb6416]

May be some day this law will help Trump.

[@shogunate2022]

Muhammad I agree with you, this is a good thing President Trump has done, as with all we do that is good we gain a return of equal good done for us.

[@hankterreros223]

Votes? But they can not, yet.

[@jjalarcon2147]

Thank You President Trump. Action speaks louder than words. MAGA KAG!!! First Step Act is not perfect, but welcome the opportunity. God Bless and Stay Strong People.

[@noakhrot]

I finally found out 1 good thing Trump will be remembered for his 3 years in office

[@allaansnackbar4269]

You must be racist then if you think the lowest number of unemployment for African Americans isn’t good also

[@alwayzchillin0714]

Guaranteed funding for HBCU schools, opportunity zones, lowest unemployment, largest economy, lowest on food stamps and welfare before Covid. Trump is the only America first candidate!

[@baltimoreravens4eva560]

​@@allaansnackbar4269And you must be stupid. Cuz obama was responsible for that

[@bumpedhishead636]

How about NOT COMMITTING CRIMES!!! Don't get into "the system" and you don't have to worry about how to get out.

[@jasonreal6431]

FOH. The laws are so ridiculous in this country you probably committed 5 crimes since you last bottomed.

[@ilanbandary4435]

​@@jasonreal6431🤣🤣🤣

[@jaredtamaro9401]

Latinos Por Trump

[@thesuncollective1475]

It's the one good thing Trump did but he never talks about it..politics is poison

[@msjmid6819]

Guess you all keep over looking that this added on to the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, signed by President Obama.

[@spydaweb3008]

👏👏🫶👥️👣

[@unbothered133]

Okay trump, I will support you when you legalize weed 🥳

[@atarbuck3452]

And you’ll support the Democrats no matter what?

[@chadwickwhite6107]

President Trump is WORKING on legalizing weed. Vice President Pence is standing in the way. Pence is a good man but he needs to do more research on pot. But at LEAST he is AGAINST ABORTION. Murdering innocent babies is WRONG.

[@baltimoreravens4eva560]

​@@chadwickwhite6107And who chose pence as his running mate?

[@bobbyamdro7987]

This is not good. It just makes it easier for hardened criminals to make it easier to behave and be released.

[@Durka-Durka]

You're gay

[@stevencorrea6946]

If they are hardened criminals they won't be released. Only someone who is truly remorseful for the crimes they committed will be released.

[@baltimoreravens4eva560]

​@@stevencorrea6946Any monster can put on an oscar worthy performance making it look like they've changed for the better. Releases for good behavior have released violent criminals and those criminals have gone out and murdered

[@deedeewinfrey3181]

Bernie Sanders is going to be a great president and Elizabeth Warren is going to be a great vice president.

[@aussie_lover544]

please tell me you are joking

[@shogunate2022]

Bernie and Lizzie over a country with a tanked economy and starvation at it socialist doors, just like the great Venazeula.

[@BigRed2]

Yes great President and VP of their retirement home

[@natewilliams3211]

Good food for flowers beds. You got to be smoking big time dope? 😡. Go to a socialist run country and live there for about ten years. I will pay for your one way ticket.