[link removed] [[link removed]]
John,
The Sentencing Project released a new report, " Counting Down: Paths to a 20-Year Maximum Prison Sentence [[link removed]] ," which examines opportunities to address the country's high rates of incarceration and excessive sentences.
Countries like Germany and Norway illustrate that sentences can be far shorter without sacrificing public safety. Criminological evidence shows that unduly long sentences are unnecessary because people age out of crime, and the general threat of long-term imprisonment is an ineffective deterrent.
The report [[link removed]] recommends seven legislative reforms to right-size prison sentences:
1.
Abolish
death
and
life
without
parole
sentences,
limiting
maximum
sentences
to
20
years.


2.
Limit
murder
statutes
to
intentional
killings,
excluding
offenses
such
as
felony
murder,
and
reduce
homicide
penalties.


3.
Eliminate
mandatory
minimum
sentences
and
reform
sentencing
guidelines
to
ensure
that
judges
can
use
their
discretion
to
consider
mitigating
circumstances.


4.
Provide
universal
access
to
parole
and
ensure
timely
review.


5.
Eliminate
consecutive
sentences
and
limit
sentence
enhancements,
including
repealing
“truth-in-sentencing”
and
“habitual
offender”
laws.


6.
Create
an
opportunity
for
judicial
“second
look”
resentencing
within
a
maximum
of
10
years
of
imprisonment,
regardless
of
an
individual’s
offense.


7.
Shift
all
sentences
downward,
including
by
de-felonizing
many
offenses
and
decriminalizing
many
misdemeanors.
Capping all sentences at 20 years is a challenging but feasible policy goal, and a project worthy of advocates’ and policymakers’ attention. Creating a proportional and fair justice system will take more than just shortening sentences, but it is a task integral to a wholesale reimagining of public safety.
Share this report on social media [[link removed]]
Headshot of Liz Komar, Sentencing Reform Counsel at The Sentencing Project [[link removed]] Liz Komar
Sentencing Reform Counsel
Email: [email protected] [[email protected]]
Donate [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] The Sentencing Project
1705 DeSales St. NW
8th Fl
Washington, DC 20036
United States
www.sentencingproject.org [[link removed]] If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .