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Issues

Learn about our key areas of focus to end mass incarceration and promote racial justice.
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Racial Justice

Ending mass incarceration must include combating racial inequality and disparity.

Sentencing Reform

It's time to take a second look at extreme sentences.

Voting Rights

The criminal justice system shouldn't have a say in our democracy.

Youth Justice

We must end youth incarceration and provide all youth with the support they need to thrive.
Featured Campaign

Second Look Network

Ending mass incarceration requires taking a second look at extreme sentences. Learn more about our coalition of legal professionals providing direct representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences.
Advocacy

The Sentencing Project is a leading voice for criminal legal reform.
Advocacy overview
Our Work

Explore our work at the national, state, and local level to promote a fair and effective criminal legal system.

Second Look Network

The Network serves, connects, and empowers legal advocates across the country to bring people serving excessive and unfair prison sentences home.

Get Involved

Changing laws and policies to end mass incarceration require a mass movement. Here are ways you can take action.
Featured Campaign

50 Years and a Wake Up

This year marks the 50th year since the U.S. prison population began its unprecedented surge. Partner with us to end mass incarceration!
Research

Explore our publications, fact sheets, data & more.
Overview
Growth in Mass Incarceration

The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration. Get the facts and statistics on trends in U.S. incarceration.

U.S. Criminal Justice Data

View state-level data to provide a snapshot of key indicators of mass incarceration's impact in the United States

Detailed Data Tool

Compare state-level incarceration data for youth and adults with this expanded data set

Resource Library

Search important resources published by The Sentencing Project, including research publications, advocacy briefs, webinars, and more
Featured Publication

One in Five

One in five Black men born in 2001 is likely to experience imprisonment within their lifetime. Our four-part “One in Five” series examines racial inequities in America’s criminal legal system, as well as highlights promising reforms.
- Glossary of Criminal Justice Terms

Testimony

Statement on U.S. Department of Justice Stakeholder Listening Session on First Step Act Implementation

By Kara Gotsch

July 15, 2021

The Sentencing Project submitted written comments for a U.S. Department of Justice Stakeholder Listening Session on First Step Act Implementation.

Related to: Sentencing Reform, Federal Advocacy, Incarceration

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.

Click here to download the full testimony.

Related Resources

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Advocacy Letter

Comment to the U.S. Sentencing Commission Regarding Youthful Individuals

The Sentencing Project submitted comments to the U.S. Sentencing Commission on proposed changes to the federal sentencing guidelines concerning the impact of criminal histories below the age 18 and how an individual’s age should be considered at sentencing.

February 22, 2024

Press Release

The Sentencing Project Releases New Report on First Step Act

Brief highlights early outcomes of bipartisan First Step Act on rehabilitation, recidivism, and excessive sentences

August 22, 2023

Policy Brief

The First Step Act: Ending Mass Incarceration in Federal Prisons

This brief describes why reforms included in the First Step Act have been deemed necessary to advance a fairer federal sentencing system and reduce the size of the federal prison population.

By Ashley Nellis, Ph.D. and Liz Komar on August 22, 2023