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John,
I am thrilled and honored to share that The Sentencing Project’s Board of Directors has appointed me Executive Director of the organization.
I am grateful for this opportunity to lead an outstanding criminal legal reform organization that sets the standard for excellence in research and policy reform grounded in evidence and fueled by passion.
The cruelty of prisons and extreme punishment in the United States has consumed me since a young age. I began advocating against the death penalty in high school. When I ultimately launched my career in the 1990s, the harsh and racist political narrative about crime and the people associated with it dominated news cycles and cemented the United States’ investment in mass incarceration. It was a lonely time for reformers like myself.
But today, I and The Sentencing Project are joined by a much larger, smarter, and more diverse community of criminal legal reform leaders, activists, impacted people and their families, academics, and public officials who share our vision and commitment to racial justice and an end to mass incarceration. That is great news!
I have also learned a lot over the last seven months serving as Acting Executive Director about building community and culture, effective and transparent communication, resilience, and empathy. These lessons for building a stronger organizational foundation, while emphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion, all translate into building a country more committed to justice, fairness, and safe and healthy communities.
I want to thank you for supporting The Sentencing Project by donating to power our programs, sharing our publications, engaging in advocacy calls to action, attending our webinars and conferences, or by talking to your family and friends about your dreams for building healthy and safe communities. Without you The Sentencing Project cannot achieve its mission - it takes all of us to transform hearts, minds, and systems to recognize every person’s dignity and act and invest accordingly.
I also want to thank The Sentencing Project’s accomplished staff who regularly excite and inspire me in this work, and our dedicated Board of Directors who have supported me.
I begin 2024 hopeful but realistic about the challenges ahead of us. The political winds seek to push us back, but we have faced this harsh and destructive storm before. I believe The Sentencing Project’s devotion to truth and evidence coupled with its compassion for people and vision for a more just and equitable future will ultimately prevail.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I look forward to building the future together.
[[link removed]] In community,
Kara Gotsch
Executive Director
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