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Sentencing Reform

Justice Delayed

Our latest report, “Justice Delayed: The Growing Wait for Parole After a Life Sentence,” reveals that people serving parole-eligible life sentences endure extended delays in the parole process – from the wait for initial eligibility to the wait for reconsideration following a denial.

Delaying the release of millions exerts additional strain on families, communities, and state budgets. Parole was designed as a mechanism for second chances, not permanent punishment.

Read Justice Delayed
Sentencing Reform

Key Publications

Report

A Matter of Life: The Scope and Impact of Life and Long Term Imprisonment in the United States

One in six people in prison – nearly 200,000 people nationwide – are serving life sentences. This comprehensive 50-state report examines the prevalence and implications of life sentences across the country, highlighting the disproportionate impact of such extreme sentences on people of color and the inefficacy of punitive measures in improving community safety.

By Ashley Nellis and Celeste Barry on

Report

Incarceration and Crime: A Weak Relationship

Nearly 50 U.S. states have reduced both incarceration rates and crime in the last decade. We don’t have to return to a punitive playbook in the face of recent crime upticks.

By Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Ph.D. and Kristen M. Budd, Ph.D. on

There may be those who make the argument that someone has been incarcerated so long that they cannot function in society, so they should remain in prison. Shame on us if we’ve incarcerated someone so long that it becomes a reason why they need to continue to be incarcerated. Shame on us if we’re not preparing people to come out into society.

Andrew Hundley
Executive Director of the Louisiana Parole Project
Advocacy

Oversight Hearing on Clemency and the Office of the Pardon Attorney

Senior Fellow William “Bill” Underwood testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the need for Congress to provide more opportunities for second chances for people serving extreme sentences.

Testimony
Webinar

Why Are We Incarcerating Domestic Violence Survivors?

This webinar reflects on how the growth of mass incarceration drives the criminalization of survivors of domestic violence.

Click here to watch.

Get involved

Toolkit for Fighting Mass Incarceration in the 119th Congress

Join us in fighting mass incarceration. Learn about our priorities in the 119th Congress (2025-2026) and advocate for them with your legislators. Our toolkit will guide you through how to meet with your representatives, advocate at town halls, write Op-Eds, and more.

Read toolkit