THE PLIGHT OF MATTHEW CHARLES
Arrested in 1995 for selling crack cocaine, Matthew Charles received a 35-year sentence in federal prison. The disproportionate sentencing that mandated higher prison terms for crack than powder cocaine kept Matthew locked up 16 years for his nonviolent crime.
Matthew’s term eventually was reduced. He left prison in June 2016 under the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010—only to be sent back in May 2018, on the grounds the law could not be applied retroactively.
Matthew’s plight captured the nation’s attention, and thousands demanded his release. Then, on Jan. 3, 2019, Matthew Charles became one of the very first people <[link removed]> set free under the bipartisan FIRST STEP Act (FSA), which Prison Fellowship® helped craft and supported alongside an extraordinary range of partners.
“When committed Christians faithfully fight the right battles in the criminal justice arena, God can use them to help restore broken lives and bring about real justice.” —Prison Fellowship Founder Chuck Colson
A CALL TO THE FAITHFUL
Matthew’s story is proof positive that the changes we need to make in the U.S. criminal justice system are not abstract but within our grasp—and a clarion call to the faithful fight for real justice. While many Evangelicals previously emphasized personal piety, many are acknowledging that not only do souls require redemption, but so do societal systems and structures. Yes, we should “visit the prisoner,” but we must also ask ourselves whether or not it is just that they’re there in the first place, or for so long. Addressing centuries-old racial inequality from the pulpit, calls to prayer, protest, and action, many Christians are striving to bring about racial reconciliation personally and to address policies and structural barriers that negatively impact communities of color.
Did you know people of color have experienced not only harsher sentences but also greater rates of arrest and prosecution? And they are more likely to experience use of force under apprehension and while in custody. The causes of this disparate impact are complex and multi-faceted, but when there is an opportunity to help mitigate unjust racial inequalities, our calling is simple. We at Prison Fellowship have been advocating for reforms like proportional sentencing and restoring voting rights that help to address the disproportional impact of the justice system.
Your support of our fight for justice <[link removed]> that restores is vital—thank you! We invite you to join us <[link removed]> as we continue to seek restorative solutions
in this nation’s criminal justice system.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT
Send a letter asking your governor to seize the urgency of this moment in history and “remember those in prison” by addressing racial disparity in the criminal justice system.
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