Candidates

Vice President Joe Biden

Mayor Mike Bloomberg

Senator Bernie Sanders

Senator Elizabeth Warren

Questions

  1. Candidates unanimously agree on the need for justice reform. What is your primary reason for supporting reduction of theprison population?

  2. Candidates have put forward lengthy criminal justice reform plans with dozens of proposed reforms. What is the first criminal justice reform bill that you would put before Congress as President? 

  3. What is the first executive action that you would take as President?

  4. What is the biggest step that you would take to combat systemic racial bias in the justice system? 

  5. It is critical that the President and Congress continue to act on criminal justice reform to establish national leadership on theissue. However, 86 percent of the national prison population is under the control of states. Most states have already acted toreduce their populations. What is the first step you would take to further incentivize states to reform their justice systems?

  6. What is the first policy you would implement as President to increase successful reentry and reduce recidivism? 

  7. A November 2018 Washington Post investigation found large scale obstruction by the Justice Department inimplementing the First Step Act. As President, how will you ensure that the First Step Act is faithfully and fullyimplemented?

  8. Of the current bipartisan bills pending in Congress, which is your priority to see passed this year? 

  9. What is your view on whether and when voting rights should be restored to individuals with criminal convictions?

  10. Please provide one example of a bipartisan effort you have engaged in to advance justice reform.

  11. How would you work to build a bipartisan consensus to move the broadest possible justice reform package across the finish line?

Responses from candidates who have withdrawn from the campaign are available here.