I'm hoping to (virtually) testify on behalf of @sentencingproject.bsky.social.
No eligible New York voter should lose their voice in our democracy because they are behind bars. 🗳️
Jails should not be a democracy dead zone. My written testimony 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
www.sentencingproject.org/testimony/te...
🎉 The Youth Charging Reform Act passed the House and is on its way to the Governor!! 🎉
This is an IMPORTANT first step in ending automatic charging in Maryland! A HUGE thank you to Sen. President Ferguson, Speaker Peña-Melnyk, Sen. Smith, & Del. Bartlett for making the YCRA happen.
WATCH: A replay of our webinar "Re-Punished for the Past: Criminal Records and Sentencing" is now available. The discussion examined the role of sentencing commissions and highlighted recent reforms in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Pa. Supreme Court strikes down mandatory life sentences for felony murder convictions
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/03/pennsylvani...
Webinar for "Re-Punished for the Past: Criminal Records and Sentencing," scheduled for March 25 at 2 PM ET. The panelists include members from Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission, University of California, Irvine, and University of Minnesota. The Sentencing Project's logo is at the bottom left.
Join us for a discussion on March 25 at 2PM ET that will examine the role of sentencing commissions and highlight recent reforms in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington: bit.ly/4lvmwiz
"Expanding voting rights is not about partisan politics. It is about belonging, dignity and the fundamental understanding that communities are strongest when everyone has a say," writes @nicoledporter.bsky.social. #UnlockTheVote
The image is a graphic for a webinar titled "Re-Punished for the Past: Criminal Records and Sentencing." It lists panelists and their affiliations: "Esther Matthews, Academic Member, Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission"; "Ojmarrh Mitchell, Professor, University of California, Irvine"; "Kevin Reitz, James Annenberg La Vea Land Grant Chair in Criminal Procedure Law, University of Minnesota." The moderator is "Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Director of Research, The Sentencing Project." The event is on March 25 at 2 PM ET. The Sentencing Project's logo is at the bottom left.
Join us for a discussion on March 25 at 2PM ET that will examine the role of sentencing commissions and highlight recent reforms in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Register: bit.ly/4lvmwiz
NOW LIVE: the first three episodes of Before They Could Dream! In Episode 1, we hear from the host, Abd’Allah Lateef, about his childhood in Philadelphia as a shy, athletic boy and the circumstances that led him to being sentenced to life without parole.
This fact is not in dispute: Charles “Sonny” Burton, 75, has never killed anyone.
But on Thursday, Alabama is set to execute him.
Research on female incarceration is critical to understanding the full consequences of mass incarceration and to unraveling the policies and practices that lead to their criminalization.
The female incarcerated population stands over seven times as high than in 1980: bit.ly/3YkWnHn
A new report from @sentencingproject.bsky.social details how prior convictions can add years, even decades, to prison sentences without evidence of improved public safety. These enhancements fuel excessive punishment and racial disparities.
Read the report and explore the path to fairer sentencing:
A group of people is gathered in front of a historic building holding signs that read "Kids Can't Wait." A banner at the bottom urges lawmakers to pass "Maryland's Youth Charging Reform Act!" with a "Take Action" button.
Maryland continues to send more youth, ages 14-17, to adult court – automatically based on the charge – than any other state except Alabama. Nearly 80% of youth charged in adult court in Maryland are Black.
Marylanders, urge your legislators to pass the Youth Charging Reform Act: bit.ly/4kyFl43
Our newest report finds that across multiple states, criminal records account for a large share of already lengthy prison sentences, often adding years or even decades to sentences, without evidence of community safety benefits.
Read more: bit.ly/3MQRO6K
Had a great visit with @sentencingproject.bsky.social at “Inside Out” exhibition. So appreciate their work in the carceral space.
@nicoledporter.bsky.social
@ruckmanphoto.bsky.social
@empearce.bsky.social
In 2024, four million Americans were banned from voting due to a felony conviction.
We're committed to expanding voting rights in every state & working with state partners to provide specific data on state felony disenfranchisement. bit.ly/3kGns8t
A group of people is gathered, holding signs that say "Kids Can't Wait." The text on the image urges lawmakers to pass Maryland's Youth Charging Reform Act, with a button labeled "Take Action" below. Buildings are visible in the background.
Maryland continues to send more youth, ages 14-17, to adult court – automatically based on the charge – than any other state except Alabama. Nearly 80% of youth charged in adult court in Maryland are Black.
Marylanders, urge your legislators to pass the Youth Charging Reform Act: bit.ly/4kyFl43
An illustration of two individuals embracing. Large text reads "PASS" the SECOND LOOK act," "the EARNED TIME act," and "the MARVIN MAYFIELD act." At the bottom, "COMMUNITIES NOT CAGES" is displayed. A flower is illustrated in the lower right corner.
Decades of mass incarceration have separated families. We need #CommunitiesNotCages to bring our people home where they belong.
If you're in New York State, call your legislators NOW to eliminate mandatory minimums, grant a second look, and support transformation: bit.ly/CNC_action
This legislation would limit Maryland's current harmful practice of automatically charging youth as adults.
#YouthChargingReformNOW #CareNotCages
As a member of the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition, we joined MYJC's Lobby Day in Annapolis on Monday! We met with lawmakers directly, urging them to pass the Youth Charging Reform Act (SB 323 / HB 409) this year.
Today, in a massive show of support, 1,025 organizations, including immigrant justice, human rights, civil rights, faith, and labor organizations, sent a letter to members of Congress to express horror, outrage & deep grief about the recent shooting deaths by federal agents in Minneapolis.
We're hiring a Research Consultant!
Here are more details: bit.ly/4qEpVgM
Apply or share with your network! Applications are due February 23, 2026!
Advocates behind the Washington bill say restricting incarcerated people from voting while they’re completing their felony sentences undermines the state’s constitutional values and perpetuates racial injustices imbued in the criminal legal system.
If adopted by voters, this landmark ballot measure will eliminate the state’s lifetime felony voting ban, restoring the vote to over 230,000 citizens.
Virginia’s felony disenfranchisement law was enshrined in the state constitution 124 years ago with the explicit intent to disenfranchise Black voters. For decades, advocates and other stakeholders have worked to remove this Jim Crow era stain from Virginia’s constitution.
Virginia takes step to end Jim Crow era voting ban
Virginia lawmakers voted last week to place a measure on the November ballot this year to automatically restore voting rights to people when they exit prison.
Image of Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington, DC featuring a quote "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" by Martin Luther King Jr., overlaid on a subtle blue background. Logo of The Sentencing Project is visible at the bottom.
Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of leadership, service, and equality. #MLKDay
The Sentencing Project joined 400+ civil rights groups calling on Congress to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through budget negotiations.
Read the coalition letter ⬇️
Join the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition's Youth Justice Lobby Day in Annapolis at St. Anne's Parish. on February 2. The event takes place at 4PM, but doors open at 3:30PM. You can visit bitl.y/MYJCLobbyDay26 to learn more and RSVP. Graphic features an image of people holding signs that say "care not cages" and "end auto-charging now"
MARYLAND EVENT: Join us at the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition's Youth Justice Lobby Day in Annapolis.
📍 Where: St. Anne's Parish: 199 Duke of Gloucester Street
📅 When: February 2, 2026 at 4PM
RSVP: bit.ly/MYJCLobbyDay26
