Norton Delivers CBC Message to America on Helping Reduce Recidivism for Returning Citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) delivered this week's Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) "Message to America." Norton focused on the CBC's work that led to the fight against mandatory minimums—which is now bearing fruit with the early release this month of about 6,000 federal prisoners, who had their drug sentences reduced.

"Now that we are achieving some success in the fight against mandatory minimums, we must cut the rate of recidivism so that this first victory for thousands of African Americans who were unfairly sentenced will not be our last," Norton said.

The script of Norton's full video message is below.

Hello, I'm District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, delighted to offer this week's Congressional Black Caucus Message to America.

With the largest mass release of federal inmates in our history underway, the Congressional Black Caucus's leadership against mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenses is beginning to bear fruit. A lot more needs to be done, though, to ensure these first to be released succeed. More than two thirds are Black and Hispanic, from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Six percent are women. All had to be approved by a judge. The first 6,000 are already mostly in halfway houses in our communities, except for the 25 percent who are non-citizens and are being deported. 8,500 more will be released over the next year.

This is a breakthrough, but with bipartisan support, we are still trying to repeal the mandatory minimums that resulted in the incarceration of so many African Americans in the first place. Equally important is the new policy that U.S. attorneys in court reserve mandatory minimums sentences for high-level drug trafficking. Mandatory Minimums have punished the African American community too and left thousands of Black children to be raised by a single parent.

Both risk and hope lie ahead. The national spike in crime that began before these inmates were released is already being blamed by some on returning citizens. True, historically 40 percent return to prison. The baton now passes to all who have worked to release these first returning citizens. More than 70 House Members have urged President Obama to require that federal agencies and contractors make no inquiry about an applicant's convictions beyond background checks until after the initial stage of hiring. I'm calling service providers and halfway house personnel in my district to a roundtable to help these returning citizens stay on the outside. Now that we are achieving some success in the fight against mandatory minimums, we must cut the rate of recidivism so that this first victory for thousands of African Americans who were unfairly sentenced will not be our last.