publications
January 16, 2019
Top Trends in State Criminal Justice Reform, 2018
In 2018, formerly incarcerated activists, lawmakers, and advocates worked to challenge mass incarceration. This briefing paper highlights key changes in criminal justice policy achieved.
news
January 16, 2019
The Brian Lehrer Show: Calling for the End of Life Sentences
Marc Mauer and Ashley Nellis argue against any sentence longer than 20 years on WNYC's the Brian Lehrer Show.
Kemba Smith
At 24 years old, Kemba Smith was sentenced to 24.5 years in prison for conspiracy to participate in her boyfriend's drug activities, a non-violent, first-time offense. For years, her parents galvanized a tireless movement seeking clemency for their daughter.
news
January 09, 2019
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah: Marc Mauer Calls For Abolishing Life Sentences
Trevor Noah interviewed Marc Mauer about his new book with Ashley Nellis on life sentences.
news
January 03, 2019
Race & Justice News: Florida Judges Not Blameless for Biased Pleas
Judges in Florida are not blameless for biased plea deals, Denver's curfew law enforcement targets Latino youth, and more in Race & Justice News.
Theresa McIntyre Smith
In 1999, Theresa Smith was arrested at an airport after she met a drug courier in Roy Mercer’s network and according to the government, identified a suitcase containing eleven kilograms of cocaine for the courier. Smith said she had been told by Mercer that the suitcase contained his nieces’ clothes. For this first-time non-violent offense, Smith was sentenced to a ten-year mandatory prison term.
news
December 19, 2018
Commentary: Progress on justice reform closer
The First Step Act is an important milestone in the long road to ending mass incarceration and curbing the excesses and harm in the federal justice system.
news
December 18, 2018
Criminal justice reform doesn't end system's racial bias
Efforts still leave black men more likely to be arrested, sentenced and imprisoned for the same behavior
Kimberly Haven
Kimberly Haven’s journey as an advocate began when she sought to regain her own voting rights after release from a Maryland prison in 2001. She soon became passionate about the unfairness of disenfranchising citizens after they have completed their sentence and returned to the community.
publications
December 14, 2018
The Sentencing Project Urges Senate to Oppose Cotton - Kennedy Amendment to the First Step Act
The Sentencing Project urges the Senate to pass the First Step Act without amendment #4109, introduced by Senators Tom Cotton and John Kennedy—which is designed to derail the legislation and weaken its rehabilitation incentive program.
news
December 13, 2018
State Advocacy News: Inside/Outside End Mass Incarceration Strategies
Establishing unifying policy platforms offer opportunities to raise public awareness about long-term prison sentences and the conditions that persons sentenced to life terms and others experience.
Andres Idarraga
After his release in June of 2004, Andres Idarraga became a full-time student at Brown University studying comparative literature and economics while maintaining full-time employment. Idarraga saw his right to vote as a significant and crucial aspect to rebuilding his life and to contributing to his community.
news
December 12, 2018
Congress’s long-overdue passage of juvenile reforms a welcome step
Congress reauthorized the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act for the first time since 2002. We urge President Trump to sign the bill.
publications
November 28, 2018
The Sentencing Project Calls on Congress to Pass First Step Act
In a letter sent to Senate and House leadership, The Sentencing Project urged Congress to move quickly to pass the sentencing reform measures in the First Step Act (S.3649) "to help create a safer, more equitable and fairer justice system."
Christopher Poulos
When Chris Poulos was arrested, he experienced firsthand the difference that money can make in the criminal justice system. He recounts the experience in his own words.
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