美国有线新闻 CNN 特朗普表示支持监狱改革法案

 

First story, U.S. President Donald Trump¹ has voiced his support for a Prison Reform Bill that's currently making it's way through Congress.

It's called the "FIRST STEP Act". FIRST STEP s?tanding for "Formerly² Incarcerated³ Re-enter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person". That's a lot.

Here are some things it would do. One, it would reduce the number of mandatory⁴ minimum sentences for certain crimes focusing on people convicted of non-violent drug related crimes. That could mean many inmates⁵ serve less time in prison. There's a way for prisoners to earn extra credit for behaving well and participating in things like educational, religious or job training programs that could help them get out sooner. But convicted murders and terrorists would not b?e eligible⁶ for that. And the act would attempt to place inmates in prisons that are closer to their homes as a way to increase opportunities for their families to visit them.

The White House says, this will help decrease the number of people in overcrowded prisons, decrease the costs of incarcerating⁷ criminals, make sentencing more fair and better prepare inmates to re-enter society as productive, law-abiding citizens.

But some critics and lawmakers have said, it doesn't go far enough to reform the criminal justice system. While others have said it goes too far without punishing criminals enough and potentially making communities less safe. The first act passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year with wide spread support from both Democrats⁸ and Republicans. The President's support is expected to encourage its passage in the Senate, possibly in the current lame⁹ duck session which wraps up in early January.

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

3 incarcerated   

钳闭的

参考例句：

• They were incarcerated for the duration of the war. 战争期间，他们被关在狱中。 来自辞典例句
• I don't want to worry them by being incarcerated. 我不想让他们知道我被拘禁的事情。 来自电影对白

4 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

5 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

7 incarcerating   

vt.监禁，禁闭（incarcerate的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

8 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。