[Peace-discuss] FCNL: Urge Sen. Kirk to back bipartisan sentencing reform bill

[Robert Naiman]

FCNL thinks Sen. Kirk might actually do this. A bunch of Republicans
support this. It's plausible this could happen if Kirk heard from a bunch
of people in Illinois. This could help stop a lot of unnecessary human
suffering. All that is requested here is an email, a few clicks.

Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
(202) 448-2898 x1

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ruth Flower, FCNL <ruthflower at fcnl.org>
Date: Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 2:27 PM
Subject: Sen. Kirk needs to hear about mass incarceration
To: Robert Naiman <naiman.uiuc at gmail.com>




Dear Friends in Illinois –

Last Wednesday, along with colleagues from other faith groups, I met with
Senator Mark Kirk’s Judiciary Committee staff. Senator Kirk had not yet
decided whether or not to co-sponsor the Senate bill on Sentencing Reform
that is moving along right now. It seemed from the conversation that it
would be very helpful for the Senator to receive some messages from
constituents in support of the bill.

*Please urge Sen. Kirk to support the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act
(S. 2123).*
<https://fcnl.org/r/E/NDg1MDI0/Mzc1NzU/0/0/bmFpbWFuLnVpdWNAZ21haWwuY29t/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jYXB3aXouY29tL2Zjb25sL2lzc3Vlcy9hbGVydC8_YWxlcnRpZD02ODUzNzYyNiZ0eXBlPVRBIyEjIQ/7771/1>

There’s a summary of the bill on our website here
<https://fcnl.org/r/E/NDg1MDI1/Mzc1NzU/0/0/bmFpbWFuLnVpdWNAZ21haWwuY29t/aHR0cDovL2Zjbmwub3JnL2lzc3Vlcy9pbmNhcmNlcmF0aW9uL0ZDTkxfU2VudEFjdDIwMTVfU3VtLnBkZiMhIyE/7771/1>.
What I can tell you briefly is that the bill is a compromise. It reduces*
some* of the very long (life-without-parole or 25-year) sentences to a more
modest 10 years, and it allows judges some discretion in certain kinds of
cases going forward. The bill also makes a very good law – the Fair
Sentencing Act – retroactive for thousands prisoners who are already
serving disproportionately long sentences for crimes related to “crack”
cocaine, compared to sentences for powdered cocaine.

*Basically the bill would allow some re-thinking about how to reduce crime.*
As one of my colleagues from the Methodists pointed out, these sentences
were imposed in the ‘80s, when we thought that the best way to deal with
drug related crimes was to frighten drug users with massive sentences. More
than 30 years later, we know a lot more about addiction and even about
punishment and second chances. This bill would begin to put some of this
knowledge into effect.

*Tell Sen. Kirk: Sentencing reform is good for Illinois.
<https://fcnl.org/r/E/NDg1MDI2/Mzc1NzU/0/0/bmFpbWFuLnVpdWNAZ21haWwuY29t/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jYXB3aXouY29tL2Zjb25sL2lzc3Vlcy9hbGVydC8_YWxlcnRpZD02ODUzNzYyNiZ0eXBlPVRBIyEjIQ/7771/1>*

Some states have already begun to reduce their prison populations with
shorter state sentences, and to invest the savings in programs that
directly address underlying problems (such as addictions) and that prepare
people in prison for a transition to civilian life. The federal prison
system holds a large number of people for drug-related crimes. The federal
system needs an overhaul too.

To be clear, this bill isn’t the overhaul. It’s a step. *But it’s a very
positive one* – it is being supported by bipartisan negotiators who wrote
it and introduced it, and a bipartisan list of nearly two dozen co-sponsors.

Senator Kirk is a linchpin in this process. His support would mean a lot. *Will
you take a moment to send him your thoughts today?*
<https://fcnl.org/r/E/NDg1MDI3/Mzc1NzU/0/0/bmFpbWFuLnVpdWNAZ21haWwuY29t/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jYXB3aXouY29tL2Zjb25sL2lzc3Vlcy9hbGVydC8_YWxlcnRpZD02ODUzNzYyNiZ0eXBlPVRBIyEjIQ/7771/1>

Thanks!

Ruth Flower
Legislative Director


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