Dear John,
Lawmakers in the District of Columbia will soon vote on legislation that could transform the punishment paradigm for District residents and provide much needed sentencing relief. This week, I highlighted the value of the legislation in a Washington Post Op-Ed and WJLA-TV interview and called on DC’s Council to pass the Revised Criminal Code Act.
The Sentencing Project first endorsed the Revised Criminal Code Act last year because it would help to scale back extreme prison sentences, which are infused with racial bias and are counterproductive to public safety. A massive modernization of the criminal code, the legislation would also: - Eliminate almost all mandatory minimum sentences
- Cap maximum sentences at 45 years
- Expand second look judicial sentence reviews to people who have served at least 20 years for crimes committed at age 25 and up.
If passed, these reforms would set a vital precedent for the country in the fight to end life imprisonment, address racial disparities in incarceration, and scale back extreme sentences. For the District, the legislation would give hope to people who have lost decades of their lives to incarceration and help prioritize more effective investments in public safety. Our recent research shows that while an astounding 56% of the U.S. prison population is serving a sentence of 10 years or longer, among imprisoned DC residents, 72% are serving such sentences.
The District of Columbia and the country must do better. Please share these commentaries with your friends and colleagues. |
