Rev. CJ Rhodes, Guest Columnist 2:54 p.m. CT March 10, 2017

The Rev. CJ Rhodes(Photo: File photo)

Clergy for Prison Reform applauds the Mississippi Legislature for its continued efforts to improve the criminal justice system in our state. Over the last several years, lawmakers have demonstrated courageousness by enacting common sense laws that focus on morality, not just money. As citizens, we have been proud to boast about the Mississippi criminal justice reforms, setting an example for other Southern states. Yet, there remains work to be done.

Since its inception in March 2015, CPR has advocated for a more holistic and humane approach to incarceration and remediation. A diverse group of Christian pastors and community leaders representing theological and political conservatives, moderates, progressives and Libertarians join hands and hearts to advocate for a system that considers both the human and fiscal cost of an unjust criminal justice system.

On Tuesday, CPR held its second annual Policy Summit at the state Capitol, where members of the clergy from across the Mississippi advanced CPRs 2017 policy platform. We urged the Legislature to consider the following:

Mississippians suffering from drug addiction and mental illness do not belong in prison. CPR supports the reclassification of low-level simple drug possession as a misdemeanor and other measures that focus on rehabilitation and healing over incarceration. CPR supports the use of prison alternatives, such as drug courts, for those convicted of nonviolent offenses.

Mississippi should reform its habitual offender statute to ensure nonviolent offenders do not spend the rest of their lives behind bars. CPR supports limiting the crimes that trigger sentencing enhancements. A defendants sentence should only be enhanced under the most serious circumstances where there are multiple convictions for crimes of violence. CPR supports redemption and forgiveness for all of Gods children. A persons mistakes should not follow them for the rest of their lives. CPR also supports the creation of a cleansing period for prior convictions after a period of time following the persons reentry into society, as well as not allowing past juvenile convictions to trigger longer prison stays as an adult.

Mississippi must pass state legislation to end the operation of debtors prisons. CPR supports bail reform because individuals should not lose their freedom simply because they are too poor to afford bail or other court fines and fees.

Mississippians deserve a chance for redemption and an opportunity to fulfill Gods purpose for their lives. CPR supports expanding parole eligibility to individuals who do not have a history of violence and have served a significant portion of their sentence.

As citizens of this great state and religious leaders in our communities, we will continue striving for better ways to reduce crime, recidivism and community disintegration which will include actively engaging with the legislative process. This issue extends beyond the criminal justice system. Adequate education, community investment, economic opportunities and spiritual and moral formation, among other things, are necessary elements in holistic criminal justice reform.

This is not simply about math it is about Gods men, women and children. We are grateful for the Legislatures commitment to improving communities and furthering justice, and we pray that this will be an opportunity to build on previous gains made by our state. Ultimately, we must extend the same love, forgiveness and opportunities for redemption to others as he has done for us.

Rehabilitating incarcerated people makes moral and fiscal sense. We have proven we can lower the prison population while preserving public safety. Legislators have an opportunity to directly impact the lives of tens of thousands of Mississippians.

We are moving in the right direction, but there is much more to be done. We must push forward. CPR has faith that Mississippis political leadership will make the right decision they will put Gods people before politics.

The Rev. CJ Rhodes is president of Clergy for Prison Reform and pastor at Mount Helm Baptist Church.

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Celebrate prison reform, yet push forward - Jackson Clarion Ledger