Donald Trump has presented himself as a proponent of strict crime policies. His approach during his administration, characterized by severe criminal punishment and aggressive policing, did not enhance safety. His proposed policies for a potential second term indicate a continuation and intensification of these tactics, threatening to increase mass incarceration and overturn progress in criminal justice.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is prepared to counter these policies if Trump is reelected. Trump's campaign claims a priority in restoring public safety, similar to President Nixon's 1968 campaign. However, these policies often disproportionately affect the Black community and include supporting abusive police practices.
Trump's proposals for a second term include escalating mass incarceration by directing prosecutors to seek harsher charges and sentences and expanding the death penalty.
Historically, Trump's administration executed 13 people in its final year, the highest number in 120 years, highlighting his long-standing support for capital punishment. His proposed punitive policies aim to affect all levels of the criminal legal system, from traffic stops to incarceration conditions. Effective community safety, however, requires investment in programs addressing the root causes of crime, such as after-school programs, substance abuse treatment, and affordable housing.
During his previous term, Trump threatened to deploy the National Guard to manage protests and encouraged police militarization. Despite working with the ACLU on the First Step Act in 2018, aimed at reforming federal prison conditions and sentencing, his administration later undermined its reforms.
The ACLU plans to use litigation to counter Trump's potential second-term policies, including preventing the re-incarceration of individuals released during the pandemic, challenging execution methods, and exposing the inherent racism in the death penalty. They will advocate for Congress to stop the transfer of military equipment to local police, end sentencing disparities, and ensure the full implementation of the First Step Act. The ACLU will also focus on state-level reforms to reduce violent police encounters and support constitutional policing practices.
Yasmin Cader, director of the ACLU's Trone Center for Justice and Equality, emphasized the organization's readiness to challenge Trump's potential second-term policies, advocating for justice and human rights. The public is encouraged to urge Congress to address disparities in the criminal legal system and end extreme sentencing.
Link: ACLU