A Look at Obama's Visit to El Reno Prison in Call for Justice System Reform

POTUS wants second life chances for non-violent criminals.

A Call for Fairer Justice System - President Obama is continuing his campaign to improve America's criminal justice system. POTUS traveled to medium-security El Reno Federal Correctional Institution near Oklahoma City on Thursday and spoke further about bringing access to resources and support for troubled youth before they end up in prison. "When they describe their youth and their childhood, these are young people who made mistakes that aren't that different than the mistakes I made," Obama said, according to the Associated Press. (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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A Call for Fairer Justice System - President Obama is continuing his campaign to improve America's criminal justice system. POTUS traveled to medium-security El Reno Federal Correctional Institution near Oklahoma City on Thursday and spoke further about bringing access to resources and support for troubled youth before they end up in prison. "When they describe their youth and their childhood, these are young people who made mistakes that aren't that different than the mistakes I made," Obama said, according to the Associated Press. (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Sentencing for Drug Laws Has Driven Increase in Prison Population - Obama is the first sitting president to visit a federal prison. With 18 months left in the White House, he is looking for Congress to send him legislation addressing reform of the criminal justice system. The prison population has doubled since 1980. "A primary driver of this mass incarceration phenomenon is drug laws, our mandatory minimum sentencing around drug laws," Obama said. "We have to consider whether this is the smartest way to reduce crime and rehabilitate individuals." (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Non-Violent Offenders Are Usually a Product of Environment - On Monday, Obama announced that he would be reducing the sentences for 46 non-violent offenders whose convictions were drug-related. Fourteen of these individuals were serving life in prison. "When we look at non-violent offenders, most of them are growing up in environments in which drug traffic is common; where many of their family members may have been involved in the drug trade," he explained. (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Non-Violent Offenders Are Usually a Product of Environment - On Monday, Obama announced that he would be reducing the sentences for 46 non-violent offenders whose convictions were drug-related. Fourteen of these individuals were serving life in prison. "When we look at non-violent offenders, most of them are growing up in environments in which drug traffic is common; where many of their family members may have been involved in the drug trade," he explained. (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Giving Felons Another Chance - Obama also wants to give voting rights back to felons who have completed their sentences. The president also aims to get rid of the box on job applications that ask people about their criminal histories. During his visit, Obama met with six inmates at El Reno who were serving time for drug offenses and who he said "expressed some fear about how difficult the transition was going to be" leaving prison and going back into the real world.  (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Giving Felons Another Chance - Obama also wants to give voting rights back to felons who have completed their sentences. The president also aims to get rid of the box on job applications that ask people about their criminal histories. During his visit, Obama met with six inmates at El Reno who were serving time for drug offenses and who he said "expressed some fear about how difficult the transition was going to be" leaving prison and going back into the real world.  (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Improving Prison Conditions - Obama also addressed the conditions of prisons, such as the size of cells. He mentioned gang activity and sexual assault as issues that also need solutions. He gave assurances that reform would begin on the federal level, but emphasized that state governments would also have to lead the charge for changes in the criminal system.  (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Improving Prison Conditions - Obama also addressed the conditions of prisons, such as the size of cells. He mentioned gang activity and sexual assault as issues that also need solutions. He gave assurances that reform would begin on the federal level, but emphasized that state governments would also have to lead the charge for changes in the criminal system.  (Photo:AP Photo/Evan Vucci)