National Urban League n Obama Administration Scorecard n www.nul.org7CRIMINAL JUSTICE SuccessesPolicing and Community RelationsSUPERIORThe Department of Justice Civil Rights Division responded to the calls of urban communities by launching investigations into police departments following the shootings of unarmed African Americans.The Justice Department also mandated department-wide training for all of its law enforcement agents and prosecutors to recognize and address implicit bias as part of its regular training curricula.Since taking office, the administration has worked to enhance fairness and efficiency at many levels of the criminal justice system, including the president signing the Fair Sentencing Act, the Department of Justice launching the Smart on Crime Initiative, and the creation of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing.Clemency and Pardons SUPERIORThe president has granted a historic number of pardons and commutations to individuals imprisoned under harsh and outdated sentencing laws. Of the acts of clemency, 1,176 were commutations (including 395 life sentences) and 148 were pardons. This is more than the previous 11 presidents combined.Criminal Justice ReformGOODThe president worked closely with the civil rights community on efforts to pass a bipartisan sentencing reform bill that would have significantly reduced mandatory minimums and reversed the policies of mass incarceration. While the legislation did not pass, it provides an important starting point for the next administration and Congress, if they are serious about addressing the acute need for criminal justice reform.Missed OpportunitiesAddressing Urban Gun ViolenceFAIRDuring an impassioned national address on January 5, 2016, the president announced executive actions to reduce gun violence, but did not advance a federal response to the fatal gun violence in Chicago. It was a missed opportunity to use his platform on this most critical issue that has implications for all urban communities. SUPERIOREXCELLENTGOODFAIRPOOR54321
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