The Sentencing Project
@sentencingproject.bsky.social
The Sentencing Project has been fighting for a fair & effective justice system since 1986.
This year, advocates have continued to advance meaningful reforms across the criminal legal system — from restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions and protecting young people from prosecution in adult courts to limiting extreme sentences. bit.ly/3UdBmkj
Race and Justice News: Uplifting Progress – The Sentencing Project
Support the fight for a more just and equitable legal system. Donate today Featured Campaign Second Look Network Ending mass incarceration requires taking a second look at extreme sentences. Learn more about our coalition of legal professionals providin...
bit.ly
August 22, 2026 at 7:54 PM
This year, advocates have continued to advance meaningful reforms across the criminal legal system — from restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions and protecting young people from prosecution in adult courts to limiting extreme sentences. bit.ly/3UdBmkj
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
Our updated report with @sentencingproject.bsky.social examines the problem and outlines a path to reform. Read it here: www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/...
July 15, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Our updated report with @sentencingproject.bsky.social examines the problem and outlines a path to reform. Read it here: www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/...
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
NEW: Updated report by @sentencingproject.bsky.social and @fjporg.bsky.social
"The Sentencing Project and Fair and Just Prosecution recommend that all U.S. jurisdictions repeal felony murder statutes."
"The Sentencing Project and Fair and Just Prosecution recommend that all U.S. jurisdictions repeal felony murder statutes."
Felony Murder: An On-Ramp for Extreme Sentencing – The Sentencing Project
Felony murder laws compel harsh decades-long–or life–sentences even when the person charged did not directly cause or intend loss of life.
www.sentencingproject.org
July 18, 2026 at 12:21 AM
NEW: Updated report by @sentencingproject.bsky.social and @fjporg.bsky.social
"The Sentencing Project and Fair and Just Prosecution recommend that all U.S. jurisdictions repeal felony murder statutes."
"The Sentencing Project and Fair and Just Prosecution recommend that all U.S. jurisdictions repeal felony murder statutes."
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
Thousands of incarcerated people are legally eligible to vote but have been blocked from casting their ballot.
This widespread erosion of voting rights is driven not by laws, Bob Libal writes, but by a lack of infrastructure and misinformation.
Here’s the solution: https://bit.ly/4wyVFXr
This widespread erosion of voting rights is driven not by laws, Bob Libal writes, but by a lack of infrastructure and misinformation.
Here’s the solution: https://bit.ly/4wyVFXr
July 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Thousands of incarcerated people are legally eligible to vote but have been blocked from casting their ballot.
This widespread erosion of voting rights is driven not by laws, Bob Libal writes, but by a lack of infrastructure and misinformation.
Here’s the solution: https://bit.ly/4wyVFXr
This widespread erosion of voting rights is driven not by laws, Bob Libal writes, but by a lack of infrastructure and misinformation.
Here’s the solution: https://bit.ly/4wyVFXr
Join us for a discussion on June 25 at 2PM (ET) on why the juvenile justice system is better for youth than adult courts: bit.ly/4ey49Yu
June 10, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Join us for a discussion on June 25 at 2PM (ET) on why the juvenile justice system is better for youth than adult courts: bit.ly/4ey49Yu
Our Executive Director Kara Gotsch joined @fox5dc.com.web.brid.gy "In The Courts with Katie Barlow" to discuss our recent report on reentry and the barriers formerly incarcerated people face after long-term imprisonment.
In The Courts: June 07, 2026
'In The Courts' is a weekly show about the law and how it works – or doesn't.
www.fox5dc.com
June 10, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Our Executive Director Kara Gotsch joined @fox5dc.com.web.brid.gy "In The Courts with Katie Barlow" to discuss our recent report on reentry and the barriers formerly incarcerated people face after long-term imprisonment.
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
🚨NEW: Incarceration is shaving years off people's lives.
Research shows that older adults who have ever been behind bars have alarming health issues and are expected to live nearly 6 fewer years.
The effects of incarceration follow people long after their sentences end. 🧵
Research shows that older adults who have ever been behind bars have alarming health issues and are expected to live nearly 6 fewer years.
The effects of incarceration follow people long after their sentences end. 🧵
June 10, 2026 at 3:40 PM
🚨NEW: Incarceration is shaving years off people's lives.
Research shows that older adults who have ever been behind bars have alarming health issues and are expected to live nearly 6 fewer years.
The effects of incarceration follow people long after their sentences end. 🧵
Research shows that older adults who have ever been behind bars have alarming health issues and are expected to live nearly 6 fewer years.
The effects of incarceration follow people long after their sentences end. 🧵
On June 12, our Senior Research Analyst Josh Rovner will provide testimony to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for a briefing on mental health care in juvenile justice facilities.
You can watch next Friday's briefing, starting at 9AM ET: bit.ly/4xgNnVe
You can watch next Friday's briefing, starting at 9AM ET: bit.ly/4xgNnVe
Mental Health in Juvenile Justice Facilities: Civil Rights Implications, Access, and Racial Disparities
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a briefing on Friday, June 12, 2026, to investigate mental health care and consequences in juvenile justice facilities. The federal government has an obli...
bit.ly
June 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM
On June 12, our Senior Research Analyst Josh Rovner will provide testimony to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for a briefing on mental health care in juvenile justice facilities.
You can watch next Friday's briefing, starting at 9AM ET: bit.ly/4xgNnVe
You can watch next Friday's briefing, starting at 9AM ET: bit.ly/4xgNnVe
Our latest report provides an overview of the fundamental differences between the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. sentproj.org/YouthCourtsVsAdultCourts
Youth Courts vs. Adult Courts: Why the Juvenile Justice System Works Better – The Sentencing Project
Despite their many flaws, juvenile courts are better for youth who break the law than adult courts.
sentproj.org
May 29, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Our latest report provides an overview of the fundamental differences between the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. sentproj.org/YouthCourtsVsAdultCourts
Today, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Youth Charging Reform Act into law. This landmark legislation marks a significant step forward for a state long defined by some of the highest rates of youth charged as adults in the nation.
May 26, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Today, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Youth Charging Reform Act into law. This landmark legislation marks a significant step forward for a state long defined by some of the highest rates of youth charged as adults in the nation.
On Substack, our Executive Director Kara Gotsch spotlights the work of the Connecticut Justice Alliance, an organization working directly with justice-impacted youth to teach them the power of political advocacy & community organizing.
massincarceration.substack.com/p/beyond-the-backlash
massincarceration.substack.com/p/beyond-the-backlash
May 24, 2026 at 9:16 PM
On Substack, our Executive Director Kara Gotsch spotlights the work of the Connecticut Justice Alliance, an organization working directly with justice-impacted youth to teach them the power of political advocacy & community organizing.
massincarceration.substack.com/p/beyond-the-backlash
massincarceration.substack.com/p/beyond-the-backlash
Today, a growing number of people are returning home after long-term confinement because of our nation’s harsh sentencing laws. What’s it like to navigate life after decades in prison?
Join us May 13 @ 3PM ET for a discussion on reentry after long-term imprisonment: bit.ly/4n4lDyb
Join us May 13 @ 3PM ET for a discussion on reentry after long-term imprisonment: bit.ly/4n4lDyb
May 2, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Today, a growing number of people are returning home after long-term confinement because of our nation’s harsh sentencing laws. What’s it like to navigate life after decades in prison?
Join us May 13 @ 3PM ET for a discussion on reentry after long-term imprisonment: bit.ly/4n4lDyb
Join us May 13 @ 3PM ET for a discussion on reentry after long-term imprisonment: bit.ly/4n4lDyb
Our Executive Director Kara Gotsch just launched a monthly newsletter examining policies driving mass incarceration and racial injustice, unpacks the real-world harm they cause, and highlights better solutions to community safety that prioritize fairness and human dignity.
Read: bit.ly/3QC6eJz
Read: bit.ly/3QC6eJz
April 30, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Our Executive Director Kara Gotsch just launched a monthly newsletter examining policies driving mass incarceration and racial injustice, unpacks the real-world harm they cause, and highlights better solutions to community safety that prioritize fairness and human dignity.
Read: bit.ly/3QC6eJz
Read: bit.ly/3QC6eJz
Our new report highlights the experiences and challenges of 33 formerly incarcerated people released after decades of imprisonment in California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C, as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
bit.ly/4sPvlGc
bit.ly/4sPvlGc
![The image features a quote on a teal background with a faint silhouette of the state of California. The quote says, "I didn’t know that [I could vote after release from prison], you know. And not knowing is, man, the worst thing in the world. You miss your opportunity to be heard." It is attributed to a California participant incarcerated for 25 years. The Sentencing Project's logo is in the lower-left corner.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dmhybc7a53n53xnv5skxzhfu/bafkreigfiqonfhev54yvzzfrbwjcimt7uwwcrpyaxxd3bgoq2vi5i6icpu)
![A quote is displayed on a background with New York silhouetted. It reads: "The things that motivated me at 23 are not the same things that motivate me at 55. I'm motivated by the ability to wake up, and be there for my mother, who died every day of them 29 years [in prison] that I did...and be there and love the people that love me, and love them unconditionally." Below the quote, it says, "New York participant, incarcerated for 29 years." The Sentencing Project logo is in the bottom left corner.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dmhybc7a53n53xnv5skxzhfu/bafkreifvqmn45whrlsts4oufpv6it27lfmoecl7c5tf5g7nv2fpqmyj73e)
April 24, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Our new report highlights the experiences and challenges of 33 formerly incarcerated people released after decades of imprisonment in California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C, as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
bit.ly/4sPvlGc
bit.ly/4sPvlGc
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
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...
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...
Testimony in Support of Jail-Based Voting in New York – The Sentencing Project
www.sentencingproject.org
April 14, 2026 at 2:56 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
🎉 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.
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.
April 7, 2026 at 3:11 PM
🎉 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.
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.
Re-Punished for the Past: Criminal Records and Sentencing
YouTube video by thesentencingproject
www.youtube.com
March 30, 2026 at 9:40 PM
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.
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
Pa. Supreme Court strikes down mandatory life sentences for felony murder convictions
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/03/pennsylvania-felony-second-degree-murder-supreme-court-ruling-justice-system/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/03/pennsylvania-felony-second-degree-murder-supreme-court-ruling-justice-system/
PA court ends mandatory life for 2nd-degree murder
The outcome could fundamentally change the lives of more than 1,000 people currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
www.spotlightpa.org
March 26, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Pa. Supreme Court strikes down mandatory life sentences for felony murder convictions
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/03/pennsylvania-felony-second-degree-murder-supreme-court-ruling-justice-system/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/03/pennsylvania-felony-second-degree-murder-supreme-court-ruling-justice-system/
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
March 24, 2026 at 9:13 PM
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
Maryland’s missed opportunity on voting rights | COMMENTARY
Opinion: Maryland has made strides in advancing voting rights, but it’s next reform should be to extend the right to vote to people who are incarcerated with felony convictions.
bit.ly
March 19, 2026 at 11:25 PM
"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
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
Register: bit.ly/4lvmwiz
March 14, 2026 at 5:28 PM
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
Register: bit.ly/4lvmwiz
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
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.
March 10, 2026 at 3:02 PM
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.
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
This fact is not in dispute: Charles “Sonny” Burton, 75, has never killed anyone.
But on Thursday, Alabama is set to execute him.
But on Thursday, Alabama is set to execute him.
Alabama set to execute man who did not kill anyone
Unless Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey intervenes, Charles “Sonny” Burton, 75, will be executed Thursday. He is among thousands in America convicted under a controversial felony murder law.
www.nbcnews.com
March 8, 2026 at 3:16 PM
This fact is not in dispute: Charles “Sonny” Burton, 75, has never killed anyone.
But on Thursday, Alabama is set to execute him.
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
The female incarcerated population stands over seven times as high than in 1980: bit.ly/3YkWnHn
Incarcerated Women and Girls – The Sentencing Project
The number of incarcerated women stands over six times higher than in 1980.
bit.ly
March 4, 2026 at 6:15 PM
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
The female incarcerated population stands over seven times as high than in 1980: bit.ly/3YkWnHn
Reposted by The Sentencing Project
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:
Read the report and explore the path to fairer sentencing:
Re-Punished for the Past: How Criminal Records Increase Prison Terms and Racial Injustice – The Sentencing Project
States are re-punishing people for past convictions, adding years or even decades to already long prison terms because of old convictions.
www.sentencingproject.org
March 2, 2026 at 9:25 PM
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:
Read the report and explore the path to fairer sentencing: