Dear friend,

Last week's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was frightening and disheartening, but we are keeping focused on the bold agenda we have planned for 2021. I want to share some of our plans with you.

FAMM's focus this year will remain the Second Chances Agenda we unveiled last Fall. The goal of this bold plan is to create as many mechanisms as possible to give people second chances, reunite families, and reduce mass incarceration. Our Second Chances Agenda includes passing "second look" laws, using clemency more often, and making all reforms retroactive.

Another key part of our Second Chances Agenda is compassionate release. In 2021, FAMM plans to actively promote this early release program in the states. We will continue to make sure people in federal prison benefit from the compassionate release reforms we secured in the First Step Act. Compassionate release is not only vital to providing second chances, but it also can help keep people safe from the spread of Covid-19.

At the federal level, FAMM plans to hold the incoming Biden administration to its promise to reduce prosecutors' reliance on mandatory minimums. In Congress, we are going to push for important sentencing reforms, including proposals to make the sentencing provisions of the First Step Act retroactive, eliminate the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences, and cut mandatory minimum sentences in half.

Establishing independent oversight of our federal and states prisons will be another focus of FAMM's work in 2021. The nation's prison systems can no longer continue to operate without any transparency or accountability.

FAMM will be especially active in four target states: Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. In addition to promoting the reforms in our Second Chances Agenda, we will be pursuing other specific goals in those states, for example, repeal of mandatory minimums (Virginia) and expanding early release for people who complete rehabilitative programming (Arizona). Those of you who live in our target states will be receiving more information about our plans in your state.

As always, we need your help to make these reforms a reality. Please stay tuned for opportunities to take action and support reform at the state and federal level. You can also see our current campaigns at our action center: famm.org/actioncenter

Sincerely,

Kevin Ring
President, FAMM