THE SENTENCING PROJECT

Mission: The Sentencing Project advocates for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justice.

Our policy priorities envision the full inclusion in society of people with criminal records and an end to extreme punishments. Our aim is to center the leadership, voices, vision, and experience of those directly affected by mass incarceration to make the rationale for systemic change vivid, credible and compelling.

Strategic priorities:
Ending extreme sentences: Roll back the extreme punishment paradigm in the U.S. that fuels mass incarceration, including advocating for a cap on punishments for serious offenses at 20 years and a universal “second look” review process for all people who are incarcerated within a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment.
Expanding voting rights: Ensure universal suffrage for the millions of justice-involved citizens through national, state, and local campaign efforts focused on ending disenfranchisement and expanding voting rights to citizens with felony convictions and citizens detained in jails and youth justice facilities.
Promoting youth justice: Safeguard youth from the ravages of the adult criminal legal system and push for alternatives to youth involvement in the adult and youth justice systems.

1. Publish cutting edge research to help reimagine the criminal legal system: We’re identifying the most pressing problems and providing evidence-based solutions for reform. We aim to increase the impact of our already influential reports, briefs, and fact sheets, which receive an average of over 1,100 media mentions annually. Further public awareness is built through the more than 75 public events, policy hearings, and professional convenings our staff participate in each year.

2. Conduct persuasive public education campaigns: We craft and promote data-driven narratives around public safety and alternatives to extreme punishment to win support for transformative change.

3. Conduct nationwide advocacy to connect work on the ground with policy changes at the national level: Through national leadership, technical assistance, advocacy training and microgrant support, we are building the capacity of the movement and empowering those closest to the issues to have a seat at the table.

4. Prioritize the issues that matter most: We are focused on promoting reform and racial justice in the policy areas that currently undermine the power of communities of color and draw Black and Brown community members into the criminal legal system.