Dear John, 

It's not too late to join us on August 5, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. CT (4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT) for “30 Years is Enough: It's Time for Justice Reinvestment.”  You may register for the webinar here.

September 13, 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the “1994 Crime Bill.”  This federal legislation was enormous and sweeping.  On the federal level, it instituted extremely harsh penalties, especially for drug crimes.  In a time when members of both political parties spoke of urban youth as “superpredators,” it ushered in an expansion of mandatory minimum sentences, including “three strikes and you're out.”

The 1994 Crime Bill did not just impact federal crimes and federal prisons.  The bill included billions of dollars for states to build more prisons.  It included incentives for states and municipalities to increase their arrest rates; it funded the purchase of military weapons for police; it encouraged states to enact harsher penalties.  In short, the 1994 Crime Bill encouraged and funded the explosion of mass incarceration all around the country.

In September 2024, Gamaliel will remember the 1994 Crime Bill and the devastation it caused to so many families and communities. More than that, we will join our voices to say that enough is enough.  It is time for our nation to pass legislation that will actually repair some of the damage done by the 1994 Crime Bill and other laws like it.  Gamaliel will call for a Justice Reinvestment Act.  As we invested billions in punishment and mass incarceration, now is the time to invest as many billions in programs that strengthen and help individuals, families and communities—especially those that have been most devastated by mass incarceration.

Please join us to learn more on August 5 at 3:30 p.m. CT for a webinar:  “30 years is Enough:  It's Time for Justice Reinvestment!” Register here:   Learn more about the 1994 Crime Bill and what we can all do this September to start our campaign for JusticeReinvestment.

In solidarity,

Gamaliel Transformational Justice Campaign Steering Team