The Leniency Shown to Paul Manafort Should Be the Norm for Everyone
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The Leniency Shown to Paul Manafort Should Be the Norm for Everyone — Not Just Rich White Men
To end mass incarceration, the criminal legal system should stop pushing long prison sentences as a default solution to punishing crime.
Last week, Americans got a front row seat to the two systems of justice we have in America, one reserved for rich white men and the other for communities of color. Unfortunately, though, many people may have drawn the wrong lessons from these examples.
On Thursday, Paul Manafort, a white man, got a 47-month sentence for massive tax and bank fraud, far less than the 24 years recommended by prosecutors. People were outraged, rightfully pointing out that every day in America, Black people face harsher sentences for less serious offenses. Many even called for Manafort to receive more prison time as a way to address this inequity.
One day later, another high profile case hit the news, just in time to pour salt on the Manafort-sentencing wound. Jussie Smollett, a Black man, got indicted on 16 felonies for lying to the police, meaning that he could face up to 64 years in prison if convicted…continue reading
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