Several nonpartisan law enforcement organizations have asked the presumptive presidential nominees to embrace policies that would reduce crime and incarceration together. The groups argue that their proposals could help repair relationships between police and communities, which have been strained after the recent shooting deaths of police officers and civilians in Dallas, Minnesota, and Louisiana.
In a letter to Republican Donald J. Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, groups representing more than 30,000 current and former police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, district attorneys, attorneys general and U.S. Attorneys from all 50 states called for curbing unnecessary incarceration and redirecting resources where they are most needed to apprehend and bring to justice the most dangerous and serious offenders. Advocates said it was the first time the law enforcement community has united to ask major party candidates to support reducing imprisonment. The move was described as a reversal from law enforcement’s past support of rigid sentencing laws. Signers of the letter asked the candidates to consider the expertise and perspective that led them to the change of heart.