American criminal justice has deteriorated in almost every respect in the past 40 years. Overcriminalization is more common and mens rea requirements are lower. Procedural protections against wrongful conviction are weaker. Many police are demoralized and alienated from the communities they serve and lack legitimacy in the eyes of many citizens. Prosecutors have displaced judges in sentencing and routinely abuse their powers to coerce guilty pleas. Mandatory minimum and similar sentencing laws force judges to choose between imposing unjustly severe punishments and circumventing applicable laws. Prisons are overcrowded, often brutalizing and inhumane, and lack resources needed to provide essential services. Community corrections agencies are overwhelmed by caseloads and inadequately funded to help offenders live law-abiding lives. Parole agencies are loath to release eligible inmates and quick to revoke parole. Evidence-based means exist to make major improvements in every facet of American criminal justice. What has been lacking is the political will to use them.

中文翻译：

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从警务到假释：重构美国刑事司法

在过去的40年中，美国的刑事司法在各个方面都在恶化。过度犯罪化更为普遍，男性的需求量也较低。防止错误定罪的程序保护性较弱。许多警察士气低落，与他们所服务的社区疏远，在许多公民眼中缺乏合法性。检察官已使法官流离失所，并经常滥用其权力强迫认罪。强制性最低刑罚法和类似的量刑法迫使法官在施加不公正的严厉惩罚与规避适用法律之间做出选择。监狱人满为患，常常残酷无情，不人道，缺乏提供基本服务所需的资源。社区矫正机构不堪重负，没有足够的资金来帮助罪犯过守法生活。假释机构不愿释放符合条件的囚犯，并迅速撤销假释。存在基于证据的手段，可以在美国刑事司法的各个方面做出重大改进。一直缺乏使用它们的政治意愿。