Dear John,

Although Prison Fellowship is often best known for our work inside the prisons of America, we’re also hard at work, day in and day out, to ensure that our legal system brings justice to those caught in the cycle of crime and incarceration.

Our advocacy team, capably led by Heather Rice-Minus, senior vice president for advocacy and church mobilization, works tirelessly to equip lawmakers and Christians to advance a more restorative approach to justice. Thanks to the faithful support of our Justice Advocates and Ambassadors, the U.S. House of Representatives passed in a 361-66 vote the bipartisan EQUAL Act, which would eliminate inconsistent treatment in federal sentencing of crack and powder cocaine crimes. This disparity, set at 18:1 after the 2010 passing of the Fair Sentencing Act (and down from 100:1 previously), creates equal sentencing guidelines for crack and powder cocaine. Lawmakers acknowledged that the arguments for the original disparity had been proven wrong: compared to powder cocaine, crack cocaine is not more addictive , more harmful to prenatal health outcomes, nor more likely to cause violent crime.

“The crack-powder cocaine disparity is not evidence-based and has increased overincarceration among Americans, particularly in poor communities and in communities of color. We commend the House of Representatives for correcting a grave policy mistake and urge the Senate to swiftly take up and pass the EQUAL Act.” –Heather Rice-Minus

In our work ministering to incarcerated men and women, we have witnessed unjust sentences related to crack cocaine crime. These penalties are not only unfair, but they also demoralize and discourage incarcerated people from pursuing good citizenship behind bars. We encourage you to write your senator to share your own support of the EQUAL Act.

Our founder Chuck Colson once said, “One must be concerned about the rights of prisoners … not because there is something in it for the individual, but because justice demands it.” I’m proud that Heather and her team are continuing Chuck’s legacy of working for justice that restores.

It is such a joy to share these updates with you, so thank you for taking the time to celebrate with us the many ways the Lord continues to work through the ministry we’ve been given. Through your faithful prayers and support, we are able to fulfill the calling the Lord has given us. If we can pray for you or your family in any way, please let us know, and we would be honored to lift your concerns before the Lord.

Honoring Him,

JAMES J. ACKERMAN
President and Chief Executive Officer

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Prison Fellowship P.O. Box 1550, Merrifield, VA, 22116-1550 US