Biden Confronted About Crime Bill, Says ‘It Didn’t Generate Mass Incarceration … the Black Caucus Supported It’

‘92 out of every 100 prisoners end up behind bars are in a state prison, not a federal prison’

EXCERPT:

BIDEN: "That's a good essay question and a good question. Folks, let’s get something straight. 92 out of every 100 prisoners that are behind bars are in a state prison, not a federal prison. This idea that the crime bill generated mass incarceration, it did not generate mass incarceration. The only bill, that bill had — it was $30 billion dollars. $10 billion went to making sure there was rehabi — that it was for prevention. That's what it was about. Secondly, the court, I made sure there was a set-up in that law that said there were no more mandatory, except two that I had to accept. One was that President Clinton wanted three strikes and you’re out, and was part of this entire bill that included the Violence Against Women Act, included the gun control efforts, as well as included — anyway, I won't go. But here's the deal. What happened is, the mass incarceration occurred by the states setting mandatory sentences. What happened was, if you go back and look, the black caucus supported the bill. The reason why the black caucus supported the bill is because we made sure, I had a study done by my staff, and we found out, I remember judge and I talking about this, the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of people for a first-time offense, if they were black, they went to jail three times as long as a white.” 

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