Dear John,

This summer’s protests for racial justice shone a powerful national spotlight on the need for criminal justice reform. And the power of the people don’t stop!

Local officials, like DAs, your governor, and your state legislators can have the greatest impact on shrinking the criminal legal system and mitigating its harms. In states like California, Texas, and Florida, progressive DAs promised to implement policy changes that would shrink the criminal legal system.

One of the biggest recent wins for justice reform at the local level took place in Los Angeles, where the incoming DA has pledged to reduce incarceration by ending cash bail and mitigate the harms of the system by not seeking the death penalty in all cases. This is huge, because these practices don't impact everyone equally—for example, cash bail systems have unfair consequences on the poor and disproportionately impact communities of color. They exacerbate the inequities by criminalizing poverty. Removing cash bail helps to shrink the criminal legal system and stop mass incarceration.

This is just one example of young people demanding that their local officials shrink the criminal legal system. And now, let’s see if we can make it happen in your state. You can push your legislators to follow in the footsteps of cities like Los Angeles and act on your demands.

Tell lawmakers they have a responsibility to shrink the criminal legal system. Let them know that we are watching and waiting for their commitment to ending the harms of the criminal legal system.

We have the power to create a more equitable society. Your elected state officials control a large portion of what causes mass incarceration PLUS they can determine how this system operates.

Use our action tool to continue the momentum on progressive policy changes and demand your local officials end mandatory minimums, end the overuse of probation and parole, end cash bail, and end life without parole sentences. Your pressure on DC lawmakers to take these steps will create a more equitable society.

Thank you,

Hassen Bashir
Organizing Associate
Generation Progress