John,

Formerly incarcerated activists, lawmakers, and advocates achieved important changes in criminal justice policy last year to challenge extreme sentencing, expand voting rights and advance youth justice. "Top Trends in Criminal Justice Reform, 2022," by Nicole D. Porter describes these key changes.

Highlights include:

Extreme Sentencing and Decarceration: Washington D.C. modernized its criminal code including lowering maximum sentences to 45 years, eliminating accomplice liability for felony murder, and expanding judicial reconsideration for all persons serving long prison terms. Final approval of these reforms is pending.
Challenging Racial Disparity: California officials passed the Racial Justice Act for All, which allows persons with certain convictions or judgments to petition the court and seek relief if racial bias was proven to be present in their case.
Drug Policy: Four states - Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and Colorado - considered sentencing alternatives for certain drug offenses or ballot measures to legalize or decriminalize certain drugs.
Prison Reform: Four states - Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont - adopted ballot measures to remove language from their state constitutions allowing slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for the conviction of a crime.
Probation and Parole: Two states - Florida and Oklahoma - limited the use of incarceration for probation and parole violations.
Guaranteeing Voting Rights: Two states - Massachusetts and Washington - adopted policies to guarantee ballot access for incarcerated voters.
Youth Justice: Four states - Indiana, Maryland, Tennessee and Wyoming - adopted policies to protect young defendants and expand release options for persons sentenced in their youth.

The full briefing paper, which includes details on the authorized legislation, can be found online here.