On December 21, 2018, former President Donald Trump signed the First Step Act. The law has two overarching goals: corrections reforms aim to expand recidivism reduction programming to hasten people’s transfer from prison to community corrections; and sentencing reforms reduce extreme sentences for certain federal offenses. In the first two and a half years since the First Step Act’s passage, implementation has been problematic, and efforts to thoroughly evaluate progress are hindered by a lack of transparency by the Department of Justice.
Related Posts
publications
July 20, 2021
Testimony to Maryland Juvenile Justice Reform Council on Trends Charging Children As Adults
The Sentencing Project strongly encourages the Juvenile Justice Reform Council to adopt recommendations [based on research and public safety] that will ensure all children start in juvenile court, and that cases are reviewed on an individual basis by a judge before determining they should be sent to adult court
publications
July 20, 2021
Letter Supporting the Passage of the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act
In a letter of support submitted to the House Judiciary Committee, The Sentencing Project's Executive Director Amy Fettig expressed the importance of passing the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act.
