Sentencing Reform
Ten years behind bars is a long period of time – one in which people can experience profound change. Our report, “How Many People are Spending Over a Decade in Prison?,” documents the growing number of people serving extreme sentences, and makes a case for giving incarcerated people the chance to have their sentence re-evaluated within 10 years.
Key Publications
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.
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.
Second Look at Injustice: Growing Momentum for Reform
This webinar discusses the latest research and advocacy around second look reforms. Panelists highlight California’s prosecutor-initiated sentencing reviews, DC’s Second Look Amendment Act—impacting up to 29% of its imprisoned population, and the campaign for an Elder Parole bill in New York State.
Sentencing Reform
Prison sentences are longer and imprison more people in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Modern use of mass incarceration began 50 years ago leading to an unprecedented and expensive prison build up, inadequate investment in social structures, limited improvement in public safety, and the upheaval of families and communities, particularly for Black and brown Americans. Help us spread the word on social media about ending mass incarceration to advance racial justice and to create a criminal legal system rooted in justice.
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Over half
Over half of the U.S. prison population is serving a sentence of 10 years or longer.
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1 in 7
people in U.S. prisons are serving a life sentence.
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475%
The number of imprisoned women increased from 26,000 in 1980 to 153,000 in 2020—a 475% increase.
The COVID-19 Safer Detention Act and the First Step Implementation Act
Two bipartisan bills have the potential to reduce mass incarceration, reunite families, and better guarantee the health and safety of the federally incarcerated population.
