Seeking to build support for a bipartisan criminal justice overhaul, President Obama will speak to a group of police chiefs on Tuesday in his hometown of Chicago.<br /><br />But Obama also plans to wade into the politically divisive issue of gun control during his speech to the International Association of Chiefs of Police. <br /><br />"He will continue to push for criminal justice reforms that will make the system smarter, more effective, and more fair, while addressing the need for commonsense gun safety reforms," a White House official said in a statement. <br />Obama is seeking to capitalize on bipartisan momentum behind reducing the nation's large prison population, which could hand him a major legislative victory during his final 15 months in office. <br /><br />The president and Democrats argue mass incarceration has ripped apart families across the country, especially in communities of color. Republicans have emphasized the high cost of imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders.
