Panel II: Criminal Justice Reform [2024 North Carolina Chapters Conference]

Panel II: Criminal Justice Reform: Is more needed or did we go too far? A look back at the First Step Act and Raise the Age

Congress passed and President Trump signed the First Step Act in 2018. The Act was designed to reform federal prisons and sentencing laws with the goal of reducing recidivism, decreasing the federal inmate population, and maintaining public safety. Closer to home, in 2017, North Carolina implemented Raise the Age which, starting in 2019, made it so Juveniles who committed nonviolent offenses were no longer automatically treated as adults and instead remained in juvenile court. Then, in 2020, North Carolina passed the Second Chance Act, which expanded expunction opportunities and attempted to streamline the process, although a system overload led to a pause in parts of the program until July 1, 2024. Now, several years out from these significant justice reforms, we take a look back. Are the initiatives meeting the expectations formed when implemented? Is more reform needed? Should any aspects be undone? How do changes in the state system affect the federal system, if at all, and vice versa? The panelists discussed these questions and share their insights.

Featuring

Hon. Mark Martin, Founding Dean, High Point University School of Law and Former Chief Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court
Andrew Murray, Former U.S. Attorney, Western District of North Carolina
Charles “Cully” Stimson, Deputy Director of the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation
Chad Rhoades, Of Counsel, Cranfill Sumner LLP
Moderator: Christian Dysart, Shareholder, Maynard Nexsen PC

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.