FAMM · [email protected]

July 4, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Celebrating Second Chances This Fourth of July

Donate Dear FAMMily,  Happy Fourth of July! Whenever this holiday rolls around, we can’t help but reflect on how lucky we are here at FAMM to have a front-row seat to what freedom, because of second chances, looks like for families. This holiday, newly reunited families are firing up the grill, wat…

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  Shaneva D. McReynolds, Ph.D., FAMM · [email protected]

July 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM

We celebrate FAMM’s new General Counsel, Shanna Rifkin, and Mary Price’s transition to Senior Counsel

Donate Dear FAMMily,  We are thrilled to announce that two members of our FAMM team whom you may know – Mary Price and Shanna Rifkin – are advancing into new roles!  Shanna Rifkin, who has served as FAMM’s Deputy General Counsel for almost 4 years, will now lead as General Counsel. Mary Price, who …

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  Daniel Landsman, FAMM · [email protected]

June 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM

Subject: Life on Lockdown: A Growing Crisis

The United States is facing a lockdown crisis Donate Dear FAMMily,  Over the last year, FAMM has received a terrifying rise in outreach from family members all over the country whose loved ones are locked down in prisons. We hear of lockdowns that last weeks and sometimes months. Incarcerated people…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

June 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Join us June 24th for a State Policy Update Call

We’ll update you on recent developments, answer your questions, and discuss ways you and your loved ones can support reform Donate Dear FAMMily,  Please join our FAMMily State Policy Update Call with our Policy and Family Outreach teams, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, via Zoom, about what FAMM is working o…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

June 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM

Join us June 18th for our "Inside-Out" Advocacy Training!

Learn how you can work alongside your incarcerated loved ones so that their voices can be included in policy discussions Donate Dear FAMMily,  Please join us for our next FAMMily zoom call, Advocacy Training: “Inside-Out” Advocacy. We’ll learn some best practices and strategies to work alongside you…

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  Shaneva D. McReynolds, Ph.D., FAMM · [email protected]

June 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM

We’re celebrating fathers and children reunited in the past year because of reform and second chances

Donate Dear FAMMily,  Happy Father’s Day! As always, we’re celebrating fathers and children reunited in the past year because of reform and second chances. Fathers like Terrance Stanton, who is enjoying his first Father’s Day outside prison walls with his children in a very long time. His wife, Sag…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

June 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM

Join the live-premiere of our video Father’s Day: From Both Sides of the Fence.

Part of our new storytelling campaign: Children of Parents in Prison. Donate Dear FAMMily,  My name is Alexia Pitter, and in honor of Father’s Day, I’m proud to lead the launch of FAMM’s new storytelling campaign: Children of Parents in Prison.   My father has been incarcerated since I was three ye…

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  Shaneva D. McReynolds, Ph.D., FAMM · [email protected]

June 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Find out why FAMM was mentioned 2,400 times by the media in 2024

Check out the successes you made possible in 2024 Donate Dear FAMMily,  Last year, FAMM got people talking. This year, we're turning that momentum into action.  Visit our new microsite—2024: The Year of Change, Freedom and Reform—to see how we're honoring our founding mission while expanding our imp…

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  Shanna Rifkin, FAMM · [email protected]

May 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM

Add your voice and help 67 people become eligible for immediate release

Your opinion can help sway the Commission Donate Dear FAMMily,  Last month, we wrote to you about updates from the United States Sentencing Commission’s 2025 amendment cycle. Among other changes, the Commission adopted an amendment that will reduce the sentence for certain low-level drug defendants.…

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  Shaneva D. McReynolds, Ph.D., FAMM · [email protected]

May 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM

FAMM is proud to present our annual report

Learn how FAMM made a difference in 2024 Donate Dear FAMMily,  FAMM is proud to present our annual report: 2024: The Year of Change, Freedom and Reform. Over the past year, we’ve laid the groundwork for a future that honors our founding purpose while amplifying our impact. Our vision is clear: a jus…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

May 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM

Join us tomorrow for a Federal Policy Update Call!

We'll be updating you and taking your questions. Donate Dear FAMMily,  Please join our FAMMily Federal Policy Update Call with our Policy and Family Outreach teams, May 21, 2025, via Zoom, about what FAMM is working on at the federal level. Here’s how to register: https://act.famm.org/a/federal-pol…

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  Maria Goellner, FAMM · [email protected]

May 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Spring 2025 State Policy Wins & Battles — What’s Happening in Your State

A look at how FAMM is changing state laws this spring Donate Dear FAMMily,  Spring is in the air, and that means some states have already completed their 2025 legislative sessions. Many are wrapping up now, and others will continue for longer one- and two-year sessions. This map shows when your stat…

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  Shaneva D. McReynolds, Ph.D., FAMM · [email protected]

May 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM

Empowering families, changing futures – will you join us?

Their stories move mountains – your support fuels the fight Donate Dear FAMMily,  FAMM hosted a storytelling workshop last night that was one for the books. In honor of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, the event centered on helping FAMM members focus their advocacy storytelling around their lived expe…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

May 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Join us May 14th for a Storytelling workshop!

This session will help you create your advocacy story based on the experience of you or your loved one parenting from prisonFOLLOW US: Dear FAMMily, With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day around the corner, we're focusing on parents and children impacted by the criminal justice system – celebrating thei…

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  FAMM · [email protected]

May 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM

We know Mother’s Day can be hard, friends.

Let us know if you want to opt out of Mother’s Day messages.FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, Mother’s Day is often associated with happiness and love, but we know that it can also be difficult for many of us. If Mother’s Day is painful for you for any reason, then the last thing we want to do is add to that …

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  Shanna Rifkin, FAMM · [email protected]

April 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM

Great advocacy opportunity, limited spots, must apply!

FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, The United States Sentencing Commission wants you to apply to be a member of their newly formed Sentence Impact Advisory Group (SIAG)!  The Commission has a number of existing advisory groups (you can see them all here: https://www.ussc.gov/about/who-we-are/advisory-groups) t…

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  Daniel Landsman, FAMM · [email protected]

April 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Policy Briefing: Second Look

FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily,  Join us for another edition of FAMM’s Policy Briefing panel series. Each briefing provides an overview of one of our core issues. This month – second look. What are second look laws? Who do they help? How do they work? Join FAMM to hear experts answer these important questio…

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  Daniel Landsman, FAMM · [email protected]

April 22, 2025 at 5:52 PM

Support BOP oversight!

FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, Last year, through your advocacy, we passed the Federal Prison Oversight Act. Unfortunately, the new law cannot go into effect until it is fully funded by Congress.  Sign-on to our petition in support a fully funded Federal Prison Oversight Act!  The Federal Prison Oversight …

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

April 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Join us tomorrow for a State Policy Update Call!

Our new format will hopefully create an experience in which more of you can speak directly with your FAMM state policy lead.FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, Please join our FAMMily State Policy Update Call with our Policy and Family Outreach teams, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, via Zoom, about what FAMM is workin…

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  Shanna Rifkin, FAMM · [email protected]

April 16, 2025 at 2:16 PM

Relief for low-level drug defendants!

We were heard. The Commission has made changes that could significantly reduce the sentence for low-level drug defendantsFOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily,  The federal Sentencing Guidelines use drug quantity to set the base offense level (starting point) for drug guideline sentences. FAMM has always argued th…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

April 14, 2025 at 2:30 PM

Sign up for Wednesday's Advocacy Training: How a Bill Becomes Law

FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily,  Please join us for our next FAMMily zoom call, Advocacy Training: How a Bill Becomes Law. We'll go over how this process works at the state and federal levels, how you can be a key part of the process, and answer all your questions. Understanding this part of the justice sys…

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  Shanna Rifkin, FAMM · [email protected]

April 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM

U.S. Sentencing Commission requests comments for guideline retroactivity

FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, The United States Sentencing Commission has requested comment on the criteria used to decide whether, and under what circumstances, changes to the guidelines should be made retroactive. What does this mean?  Currently, when the Commission lowers a guideline, the lower sentenc…

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  Ann Espuelas, FAMM · [email protected]

April 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM

Beware of BOP Phone Scam

FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily,  We are reaching out to alert our members of a phone scam impacting incarcerated people in the federal Bureau of Prisons and their families. People are receiving phone calls wherein the caller is identifying themselves as BOP employees to secure money for community placement …

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  Ann Espuelas, FAMM · [email protected]

April 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM

This Second Chances Month, we’re celebrating clemency!

FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, Happy Second Chances Month! Here at FAMM, we’re celebrating second chances through executive clemency, close on the heels of President Biden’s historic 4,000+ grants. Hearing from some of those people, now home, is truly joyful. They have accomplished so much since release, a…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

March 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Join us tomorrow for a Federal Policy Update call!

Sign up for our bi-monthly Federal Policy Update Zoom callFOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, Please join our FAMMily Federal Policy Update Call with our Policy and Family Outreach teams, March 26, 2025, via Zoom, about what FAMM is working on at the federal level. Here’s how to register: https://act.famm.org/a…

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  Kevin Hagan, FAMM · [email protected]

March 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM

Starting Soon! FAMM Policy Briefing on Mandatory Minimums

This is sure to be an important and impactful policy briefingFOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, Please join us for our Policy Briefing on Mandatory Minimums today at 1:00 p.m. EST via YouTube.  We will be joined by Sagan Soto-Stanton, Vanessa Thompson of the Crime and Justice Institute, former U.S. Federal Dis…

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  Alexia Pitter, FAMM · [email protected]

March 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM

Advocacy Stories are a vital tool, join us March 19th and learn to create yours!

This month we're doing things a bit different!FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, It’s time for another FAMM Storytelling Workshop! This month, we’re doing things a little differently. We’re going to laser-focus on how to create an “Advocacy Story.” This kind of story is a vital tool you can use when you are co…

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  Kevin Hagan, FAMM · [email protected]

March 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM

Join us for a FAMM Policy Briefing on Mandatory Minimums

This is sure to be an important and impactful policy briefingFOLLOW US:Dear FAMMily, Please join us for our Policy Briefing on Mandatory Minimums on Friday March 21, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. EST via YouTube.  We will be joined by Sagan Soto-Stanton, Vanessa Thompson of the Crime and Justice Institute, for…

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  Shanna Rifkin, FAMM · [email protected]

February 26, 2025 at 9:24 PM

The U.S. Sentencing Commission needs your comments by March 3rd

Now is your chance to weigh in on proposed amendments and help make drug sentences fairer. FOLLOW US:Dear FAMMilies, The guidelines that judges use to determine a range of sentences for federal drug offenses have been controversial for years.  The U.S. Sentencing Commission has proposed some signifi…

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