Five years ago, the First Step Act (FSA) was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump. The legislation passed to decrease recidivism through a series of programs was lauded as a significant step toward cultivating a more just criminal justice system.
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to assess the law’s efficacy. According to the testimonies of those involved, the First Step Act has already yielded positive results.
The hearing featured testimonies from Steve Markle, National Secretary-Treasurer of the Council of Prison Locals; political advisor JaRon Smith; Matthew Charles, a beneficiary of the law; and Charles Smith, State’s Attorney in Frederick County, Maryland.
Markle, who possesses over two decades of experience with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, said he has “firsthand experience witnessing the positive impact of the First Step Act,” and…
