Labor secretary: We’re ‘all in’ on justice reform

The Obama administration is “all in” on criminal justice reform, Labor Secretary Tom Perez said Thursday.

“We’re all in on this, we’re all in at the Department of Justice, we’re all in at the White House. We’re all in throughout this administration,” he said at a conference on the issue. “This is the real deal.”

{mosads}The secretary had just finished a speech on putting ex-cons back to work, and getting people into the workforce instead of prison in the first place.

“A good job is the most effective recidivism reduction strategy I can think of,” he said.

He made the remarks at the Bipartisan Summit on Criminal Justice Reform in Washington. His speech came after a day of panels and speeches from notable advocates for criminal justice reform — a broad issue area that ranges from changing prison conditions to altering the mandatory sentences for drug crimes.

There was a significant administration presence at the event. President Obama appeared in a video with “Wire” creator David Simon, while Attorney General Eric Holder appeared earlier in the day. 

“There is an increasing realization on the left, but also on the right, politically, that what we’re doing is counterproductive,” Obama said in the video. “We’re all responsible for at least finding a solution to this. 

Holder was equally emphatic.

“We must keep fighting for the high ideals that have animated our nation since its inception. And we must keep standing up and speaking out — no matter the challenges we face — to eradicate victimization and end injustice in all its forms,” he said.

“As you know, my time in this administration will soon come to an end. But I intend to remain engaged in this work — because, for me, it has never been only a professional obligation; it is a personal calling, and a moral imperative,” he added.

The comments — and the administration’s visibility at the event — signal the growing interest in pursuing criminal justice reform  on both sides of the aisle. 

Several lawmakers appeared at the conference in the morning, including Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) appeared in a video shown at the event.