Dear John, It’s now been a month since I’ve taken the helm of The Sentencing Project and while this is a moment of great pain and difficulty for so many of us, it is also a moment for action and resolve. Having collaborated with and admired The Sentencing Project for years, I now see from the inside what an amazing organization and team we have to meet this moment. I believe the United States is at a critical inflection point in its centuries-long struggle for racial equality. The broader public may have finally woken to the unending harm experienced by Black Americans and all communities of color because of the explicit and implicit racism that infects our institutions of law and government and the structure of our communities. I am committed to seizing this moment to help build a better nation and one that does not use its justice system to marginalize, demonize and disenfranchise people of color. If you haven’t yet, watch The Sentencing Project’s recent webinar “From Justice Reinvestment to Defund the Police: Solutions for a Better World.” The event sparked deep interest – and some lively debate – amongst our largest online audience yet. It demonstrates The Sentencing Project’s commitment to using this moment to increase investments in prevention and community development to address crime and accountability while promoting both fairness and public safety – rather than building prisons. The virtual conversation continues on August 19th with "Crime, Race and Politics in the Era of COVID-19" to unpack the latest crime data being weaponized to counter the Black Lives Matter movement’s success in raising public consciousness about racial inequality and injustice. We’ve seen such efforts before, most notably in four decades of “tough on crime” rhetoric that built the world’s largest prison system. The webinar will focus on ensuring that America does not repeat the mistakes of our past – again. While much has changed in recent months, many of the fundamental flaws in our justice system remain the same. We cannot achieve true community health and safety if we do not address the racial injustice and extreme punishment that underpins our criminal legal system. In this generational effort, The Sentencing Project will continue to use research and data to articulate the case for the broad scale justice reform we need, and work with our partners in communities across the nation to achieve that goal. I am so pleased to have your support as I take the helm of this remarkable organization at this watershed moment. Onwards! Amy | 
Amy Fettig
