Support Second Look Sentencing!
Dear [elected official],
For decades, the United States has sent too many people to prison for far too long. When we do reform sentencing laws, too few are applied retroactively. As a result, thousands of people continue to languish behind bars serving sentences with little to no benefit to public safety and at enormous costs to the state, that individual, and their families. People change. Our laws should recognize that.
Research shows that long prison sentences do not deter crime and do not make people less likely to reoffend upon release. People age, mature, and rehabilitate themselves during their years in prison. Prison beds are expensive and finite resources. It is a disservice to our public safety to waste this resource on long sentences that are no longer necessary.
Our sentencing laws do not give people enough opportunities for a second chance. Passing a “second look” law would allow people to have their sentences reconsidered by a court & or the parole board after a certain number of years in prison. It’s time our sentencing laws recognize people’s capacity to change, and their readiness to come home and contribute positively to our communities. We need to create a second look law to give people an opportunity at a second chance, reunite families, and safely reduce the number of people in prison. I urge you to support legislation to do this.
This content was produced by the national advocacy group FAMM, Family’s Against Mandatory Minimums.
https://famm.org
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