USATODAY

November 16, 2004

Clinton’s pardon saved me, but what about the others?

By Kemba Smith

Congress should give judges the power to be smart on crime by being just in sentencing.

The federal government reported last week that even though both violent and property crimes declined during the past year, the prison population continues to grow. This contradiction reveals a problem with the way judges are required to sentence criminal defendants. I know from personal experience.