
President Biden addressed racial disparities in enforcement of drug use this evening, saying he believed no one should be imprisoned for using an illegal drug.
He suggested funds used for enforcement should instead be repurposed for rehabilitation.
Biden was responding to a question from an audience member who wanted to know how police departments could be reformed while providing increased protection, particularly in minority communities.
"How can we be sure that we don't over legislate police officers so that they can do their job to protect the law-abiding citizens who live in these high crime neighborhoods and yet train officers to police with compassion?" asked Dannie Evans, a pastor and member of the Wisconsin Racial Disparity Task Force.
"By number one, not defunding the police," replied Biden.
"We have to put more money in police work so we have legitimate community policing and we're in a situation where we change the legislation," he continued. "No one should go to jail for a drug offense. No one should go to jail for the use of a drug. They should go to drug rehabilitation."
"We should be in a position where we change the system of sentencing system," he added.
Watch the moment: