The Newsletter [[link removed]]
FAMM State Work Round-Up: August 2024
It’s been a busy summer for sentencing reform, second chances, and prison oversight in the states! While most state legislatures have adjourned or recessed for the summer, FAMM’s advocacy isn’t stopping. Here’s your quarterly round-up of FAMM’s state work.
[[link removed]] Alabama
We scored a win! FAMM worked with state partners in Alabama to pass SB 322 in late spring. The new law requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to standardize inquiry and complaint forms, respond to everyone who submits a form, and give the legislature a copy of the responses. It creates 15 DOC positions solely for the purpose of working with families with problems. It also gives the legislative prison oversight committee an employee to help lawmakers with little staff do more on oversight. FAMM testified in Montgomery in July, thanking lawmakers and reiterating that Alabama’s prisons are some of the worst in the country, and that this bill is only a first step. The Alabama legislature is now recessed until 2025.
[[link removed]] California
California wraps up its legislative session in late August. FAMM continues to work on second look reforms, including SB 94, which would give certain people sentenced to life without parole prior to 1996 the opportunity for resentencing before a judge. We also support more media and lawmaker access into prisons so the public and decision-makers can see what conditions are really like.
[[link removed]] Illinois
The legislative session has adjourned until the veto session at the end of the year. FAMM continues to find support for second look, particularly the Earned Reentry bill – which would provide an opportunity for release after 20 years. FAMM staff has been busy speaking on panels, in classrooms, in prisons, and to lawmakers about the need for second chances and independent prison oversight this summer. We are also working on legislation to roll back so-called “truth in sentencing” laws that require flat time-served percentages regardless of individual circumstances. Currently, we are engaging with stakeholders to build support and identify the necessary measures for success.
[[link removed]] Maryland
Another win! Gov. Wes Moore signed SB 134/HB 297, meaning Maryland will now have an independent prison ombudsperson. This is a huge win for incarcerated people and families who will soon have a place outside of corrections to go with issues. It also adds to the growing nationwide momentum around independent prison oversight. Though the Maryland legislature is now in recess until 2025, state officials are working hard along with independent corrections ombudspeople from other states on implementing this new law, which went into effect July 1.
[[link removed]] Michigan
Yet another win! Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed SB 599 into law. This bill would allow more people to get “medically frail” release and actually go home if they get it, instead of just being released to a medical facility. FAMM testified in Lansing in support of the bill, and made sure that the legislature heard from the medical community in support. The Michigan legislature is in session until December.
[[link removed]] Missouri
A mixed win. Until Gov. Mike Parson signed SB 754 in July, Missouri had one of the worst crack powder sentencing disparities in the country – 18.75 to 1. Ending the disparity was one of FAMM’s biggest priorities in the state over the last two years, and we did it! From now on, crack and powder cocaine will be treated equally under state sentencing law. This is also important nationally – we are now down to only seven states with a disparity instead of eight. In the same breath, though, Missouri lawmakers increased the number of people eligible for mandatory minimums and rolled back parole eligibility for some youth convicted of second-degree homicide. FAMM actively opposed these provisions, and we’ll keep fighting. We advanced geriatric release further than ever this past spring, and are building a strong coalition for independent prison oversight legislation in 2025. The legislature will hold a short veto session in September, but otherwise is in recess until 2025.
[[link removed]] Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is entering the final stretch of the longest legislative sessions in the country – a two-year session ending December 2024. We continue to advance felony murder and clemency reform, as well as medical release. FAMM’s #VisitAPrison campaign [[link removed]] has been highly active here throughout the summer – one lawmaker pledged to visit every single state prison! FAMM testified in a felony murder reform public hearing in June and is showing lawmakers how much of the state corrections budget goes toward medical care for elderly incarcerated people. We’ve also publicly advocated continuing the SCI Chester Little Scandinavia project, held a screening of our documentary District of Second Chances in Philadelphia, and met with people serving and released from extreme sentences around the state.
[[link removed]] Tennessee
The legislative session is done in Tennessee until 2025, but the work continues. We played a lot of defense this year against lawmakers wanting to send more people to prison and keep them there longer. FAMM staff has spent the summer meeting with stakeholders, coalition partners, lawmakers, and finding allies to bring commonsense proactive reforms to the Volunteer State.
[[link removed]] Virginia
Virginia officially passed independent prison oversight legislation earlier this spring, meaning that families will have an independent correctional ombudsman to go to with problems once the new office is up and running. Over the summer, state officials and advocates have been working to implement the new law and get it up and running as soon as possible.
[[link removed]] Washington
FAMM continues to build support for resentencing of people whose past juvenile adjudications automatically increased their sentences in adult court after passing prospective reforms in 2023. We look forward to reintroducing legislation in 2025.
You can also see what FAMM is up to in the states on our website [[link removed]] .
We are building support and providing resources in many states that don’t appear in this newsletter. Make sure to join our private Facebook group for families and attend one of our monthly Advocacy 101 trainings, State Policy Update calls, or Storytelling Workshops [[link removed]] for more information.
Also, if you’d like to opt out of these quarterly newsletters, you can do so here [[link removed]] .
Thank you for your support.
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Maria Goellner
Director of State Policy, FAMM
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