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Dear friend,

Good news in the fight for second chances! On Tuesday, November 15, the D.C. Council unanimously approved a measure to completely rewrite the city’s criminal code. Two important features that FAMM supported were included in the rewrite, and I testified in favor of the measure last year.

The first feature we supported expanded D.C.'s current Second Look law so that people who commit a serious crime at 25 years or older can seek a new, shorter sentence after serving 20 years in prison. Existing law allows people under 25 years of age to petition for a new sentence after 15 years. This new reform means that all people convicted of crimes in D.C. will have an opportunity for a second chance — something we would love to see in all 50 states.

The second feature of the new bill is the elimination of nearly all mandatory minimum sentences. We know mandatory sentences do not reduce crime, but rather take away a judge's ability to impose an individualized sentence after considering all the facts and circumstances of a crime and a defendant. Cookie-cutter justice is not justice at all, and it doesn't make us safer.

We received news of the bill's passage while FAMM was in Atlanta, hosting 150 advocates from states around the country to discuss opportunities and strategies for passing more second look measures. I left the two-day gathering more encouraged than ever that providing opportunities for second chances will become the norm, not the exception.

Thanks to our members in D.C. who sent letters in support of the code revision, and to all of you for supporting smart reform.

Best,

[[link removed]]

Kevin Ring
President, FAMM

P.S. If you haven't already, add your name to our petition in support of second chances: [link removed] [[link removed]]
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