April 1st marks the start of Second Chance Month!
We plan to celebrate by pushing for second chance legislation in Congress that reduces legal barriers for justice-impacted individuals, improves outcomes, and increases public safety.
#SecondChanceMonth
We filed an amicus brief in Davis v. Warden arguing the Bureau of Prisons is wrongly denying earned time credits under the First Step Act to people serving mixed sentences and unlawfully extending incarceration.
Read the brief filed with @cato.org: bit.ly/4lW8xCN
ICYMI: The Count the Crimes to Cut Act (H.R. 2159) was reported favorably by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Now the Senate must pass this legislation so Congress can know exactly how many federal crimes exist and start tackling overcriminalization. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
Today we celebrate Public Defense Day and the vital role public defenders play in upholding due process in the criminal legal system.
#PublicDefenseDay
Crime fell again in 2025 and new data shows the decline is part of a broader downward trend following the pandemic-era spike.
Read our latest blog about what the numbers actually show and why the long-term trend matters for policy: idueprocess.org/blog/f/the-d...
🤩Great hosting this month’s national Clean Slate coalition meeting!
💪Energizing to gather advocates + experts in person and strategize how to keep building momentum for state + federal second-chance legislation
Congress currently cannot answer a basic institutional question: How many criminal offenses has it actually created?
Read how Congress can find the answer and why it is crucial to better policymaking and reigning in overcriminalization: idueprocess.org/blog/f/congr...
Happy Founder's Day! 🎉🥳
We also share our birthday with our Founder + President Shana O'Toole so here's to another year of fighting for bipartisan criminal legal reform!
House to Consider Legislation for Pregnant Women and CRA, May Consider Approps Bills, Senate in Recess
Read this week's Point of Order: dueprocess.substack.com/p/house-to-c...
House to Consider Legislation for Pregnant Women and CRA, May Consider Approps Bills, Senate in Recess
Read this week's Point of Order: dueprocess.substack.com/p/house-to-c...
In the face of systemic racism that still exists today, Dr. King fought for equality, fundamental rights, and racial justice. We will continue to honor his legacy by advocating for these ideals until they are fully realized in our country and the criminal legal system. #MLKDay
Keeping people permanently punished by a criminal record costs us all—fewer workers, lower earnings, and slower growth.
Second chance policies unlock opportunity, boost the economy, and reflect core American values of fairness and redemption.
idueprocess.org/blog/f/secon...
House to Consider Another Approps Minibus, Veto Overrides, and Expanded ACA Subsidies While the Senate Takes Up More Nominations
Start off 2026 by subscribing to Point of Order, our weekly congressional newsletter:
dueprocess.substack.com/p/house-to-c...
🗣️🥯 Awesome event hosted by Jobs for the Future to discuss how we can implement more effective policies to remove barriers and help get formerly incarcerated people back in the workforce
Great to meet, speak, and brainstorm with such a diverse group of stakeholders and advocates💪⚖️
ICYMI: We joined @cdt.org and other privacy + civil liberties organizations urging House Judiciary to implement necessary reform of FISA Section 702.
This includes closing the backdoor search and data broker loophole, fixing overbroad expansion of ECSP, and promoting transparency at the FISA court.
"Clean Slate policies turn second chances into family outcomes: steadier income, safer housing, and parents who can finally show up for their children."
Read The Clean Slate Initiative's new research on the impact of a criminal record on families: www.cleanslateinitiative.org/updates/new-...
We urge SCOTUS to adopt a rule that prevents the exclusion of defense witnesses absent bad faith.
Excluding key testimony harms truth-seeking, fuels wrongful convictions, and unfairly tilts the system toward prosecutors.
Read our brief: bit.ly/3KA9r9M
In the midst of a shrinking labor supply, Congress can help create opportunities for 70 million Americans that face barriers to employment due to a criminal record.
Read our blog on how the Clean Slate Act and Fresh Start Act can help improve the economy:
idueprocess.org/blog/f/secon...
You can read our vote alert urging members of Congress to vote YES on H.R. 2159:
‼️ BREAKING
The House just passed the Count the Crimes to Cut Act (H.R. 2159), a bill that would require DOJ to produce a report identifying all federal crimes and the number of prosecutions in the past 15 years.
A huge step toward a clearer, fairer federal criminal code!
🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from Due Process Institute!
Today we’re thankful for good food, good company, and everyone who believes justice should always be on the menu. 🥧⚖️
We hope you enjoy the holiday!🍁
CRAs, Epstein Files, and More in the House While the Senate Moves More Nominees and Could Consider More Appropriations Bills
This week's Point of Order: dueprocess.substack.com/p/cras-epste...
Senate Appears Poised to Pass Government Funding Deal, House May Finally Return to DC, Safer Supervision Act Reintroduced
Read this week's Point of Order:
dueprocess.substack.com/p/senate-app...
Rikers Island's inhumane jail conditions have received national media attention but prisons across the country share similar pathologies. This past
Read our post explaining the history of Rikers and how it represents the nationwide crisis we're facing:
clause40.org/blog/f/riker...
"The Safer Supervision Act is a responsible, data-driven approach to improving federal probation and supervised release... it delivers smarter justice, supports victims, and keeps communities secure." - @jasonpye.bsky.social, Vice President
Press release: www.lee.senate.gov/2025/11/lee-...
👏 We applaud the introduction of the Safer Supervision Act, S. 3077 + H.R. 5883
This bill will reform supervised release by rewarding compliance, escalating intervention proportionally, and reducing churn due to technical violations that produces no measurable public-safety gain.
In Lopez v. United States, we argue the honest-services clause is unconstitutionally vague, provides no "ascertainable standard of guilt," and violates the due process rights of defendants.
Our brief to the Supreme Court joined by @cato.org:
bit.ly/47AW2Wn
“This year’s survey marks the lowest share of respondents who said they think crime is a very serious issue since 2018.”
Read how public perception continues to shift as the data shows crime is in decline:
thehill.com/homenews/sta...
The idea that “no man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause” is a bedrock principle of the Constitution. A challenged judge shouldn't be able to assess their own impartiality.
We urged #SCOTUS to establish that independent review protects integrity: bit.ly/3Jh1GF7
