May 15, 2016

 

Friends,

The tides are turning in favor of sentencing reform, but there are crucial bills to be passed in Congress. The window to change sentencing laws this year is closing fast.

The changes these bills would make to our criminal justice system won’t fix all its problems. But passing these bills positions us to move further reform.  Moreover, thousands -- potentially tens of thousands -- of lives would benefit, and that doesn’t count their families, friends, congregations, communities. Congress can get this done right now.

By writing your federal senator and representative you can ask for action on these important bills.

 

Senate addresses:

Senator Edward Markey

255 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510

 

Senator Elizabeth Warren

317 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510

 

Senate talking points:

Please help bring the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S.2123) to the Senate floor. I hope you will cosponsor and pass this critical legislation.

        Disproportionately long prison sentences for certain crimes have created a system of mass incarceration that unfairly impacts poor communities and people of color.

        Laws that prevent successful re-entry into civilian life extend this destructive impact beyond the term of the sentence.

        The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act is a first step to reduce several lengthy mandatory minimum sentences, give judges more discretion, and lower the population in federal prisons.

 

House addresses:

Representative Jim McGovern

438 Cannon House Office Building,
District of Columbia 20515-2102

 

House talking points:

Please help bring the Sentencing Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 3713) and the Recidivism Risk Reduction Act (H.R. 759) House floor. I hope you will cosponsor and pass this critical package of legislation.

        Disproportionately long prison sentences for certain crimes have created a system of mass incarceration that unfairly impacts poor communities and people of color.

        Laws that prevent successful re-entry into civilian life extends the unfairness well after the sentence has been served.

        These bills together reduce several lengthy mandatory minimum sentences, give judges more discretion, and lower the population in federal prisons.

 

Closing:

 

Sincerely,

 

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