Skip to main content
Tags: bernard kerik | cpac | criminal | justice

Bernard Kerik to CPAC: Prison System Broken, Needs Reform

By    |   Sunday, 09 March 2014 10:30 AM EDT

Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik has seen the criminal justice system from both sides. He has helped send people to prison for long stretches, but he also has served three years for tax fraud and making false statements.

"I know the system, and I know it's broken," Kerik said Friday in a panel discussion on criminal justice reform at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Urgent: Do You Approve Or Disapprove of President Obama's Job Performance? Vote Now in Urgent Poll

Kerik said that when he entered federal prison, he expected to meet some very bad people. Instead, he found men who had received long sentences for non-violent, first-time drug offenses. One was in prison for selling a shark's tooth on eBay, and some were commercial fisherman who had caught above their limit.

"Did they do something wrong? Maybe," Kerik said, but added, "We are turning regulatory issues into crimes."

Story continues below.



And a felony conviction ends up being a life sentence even it's only a year and day, he said.

Pointing to a 19-year-old ex-military man who sold night vision goggles and got three years, Kerik noted, "If that guy lives to be 110 years old, he's going to be a convicted felon, and it's going to have an impact on him by 80 percent, 70 percent of his entire financial future, of his work ability, of anything he wants to do with his family."

Kerik taught classes while in prison, and told fellow inmates the importance of getting a GED. One man responded, "I am black, I am a convicted felon, and that GED isn't going to help me ever."

Kerik said he knows men who went to prison on white collar crimes who have bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees who can't find work.

"If they can't get hired, do you think that young man, that 21-year-old kid is ever going to get hired? Never. Never," he said.

Prisoners get no education of life-improvement skills, he said. Instead, an inmate "learns how to steal, cheat, lie manipulate, gamble and fight. … That's what prison is: It's a training ground for thuggery and criminality."

Urgent: Do You Approve Or Disapprove of President Obama's Job Performance? Vote Now in Urgent Poll

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


Newsfront
Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik has seen the criminal justice system from both sides. He has helped send people to prison for long stretches, but he also has served three years for tax fraud and making false statements. I know the system, and I know...
bernard kerik,cpac,criminal,justice
375
2014-30-09
Sunday, 09 March 2014 10:30 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved