By Spokesman Review Editorial Board

“So much of the criminal justice system is stuck in the past. Many statutes adopted years ago to handle a crack cocaine epidemic and a rising violent crime rate have not been adapted to modern realities. But states are experimenting with more surgical tools to lower costs and provide for smarter justice.

The federal government, on the other hand, has been slow to adapt because neither political party wants to be portrayed as soft on crime.”

Read More: Editorial Statute reform at federal level a step in the right direction