From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Prison reform, the war on drugs and public safety.

Hello again, I'm Aran Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The U.S. has more people in prison than China, a country that's four times larger.

Even many conservatives say it's not worth the cost.

Pennsylvania and Texas are among 35 states enacting reforms by declaring a partial truce in the nationwide war on drugs.

Now there's bipartisan support for cutting the

sentences of almost half the inmates in federal prisons. But some hardliners still maintain that

tough sentencing is the reason that crime is on the decline. We'll hear conflicting opinions. Today's

talking point will the trial of a former governor change politics in Virginia? First, here's the news.

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Program Fund. Hello again, Warren. I'll

back with To the Point. Tough sentencing in the war on drugs has overcrowded both state and federal

prisons at very high cost. Crime is down and there's bipartisan support for reducing the terms

of nonviolent drug offenders. Will the federal government catch up with reforms in 35 states?

Or is there an issue of public safety? Today's talking point, Virginia's former Governor Robert McDonald had a clean

reputation for public service, but he and his wife went on trial today on charges of promoting

a sleazy businessman in exchange for money and luxuries they couldn't afford. Will Virginia

...