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We Believe In ...
- Fairness
A person’s racial or ethnic group, economic background, or native language must not affect sentencing, punishment while in prison, access to education and job opportunities, parole, or re-entry supports.- Doing What Works
Our state’s criminal justice system should be accountable for using the practices that have been shown to reduce the likelihood of crimes and recidivism. For example, we know that family ties and visitors can reduce recidivism, so it is important that people who are incarcerated are assisted to maintain these critical connections with community.- Good Stewardship
Where sensible use of state resources can strengthen our communities to help them prevent crime – for example, through evidence-based programs for at-risk youth – we think this is a better use of our money than lengthy incarceration.- Second Chances
We believe that people can change. Given opportunities and support, people who have been incarcerated can choose to return to their communities and families as productive citizens.- Accountability
The state criminal justice system should maintain the data needed to be accountable to citizens. For example, it should be prepared to report on the racial and ethnic group of people in solitary confinement, the length of solitary confinement, and the alternatives to solitary confinement; the number of incarcerated persons who speak languages other than English and how the system is addressing communication issues; the mental health status of persons incarcerated and the measures taken to assist them in recovery.- Opportunities for Change
Many people involved with the criminal justice system have experienced trauma, are mentally ill, or have become addicted to substances. Others have learning disabilities, have never learned to read, or are developmentally impaired. We believe in access to treatment, in-prison opportunities, and community supports to help individuals turn their lives around.- Community Safety
We believe in safe, healthy communities. We believe all of us are safer when we use evidence-based interventions at every phase of involvement in the criminal justice system. We are all safer when:- sound community programs are available to prevent crime (for example, mentoring programs for at-risk youth);
- first offenders receive evidence-based interventions that help them avoid further involvement (for example, a diversion to treatment or mediation where appropriate);
- those who are incarcerated have opportunities to turn their lives around (for example, through fully funded NA and AA programs and opportunities to learn a skill); and
- returning citizens do not face barriers to finding treatment, jobs, and housing and are fully supported in their transition to community life so they never go back to prison.
Websites of Interest
The Ungers: A Matter of Time
Author Archives: Jim
Justice Reinvestment Act
Justice Reinvestment Act receives bipartisan support Republican former Gov. Bob Ehrlich and former public safety and corrections secretary Stu Simms, a Democrat, are pushing for the passage of the Justice Reinvestment Act. Read the full report covered by WBAL-TV.
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Baltimore Sun
Md. public defender, prosecutor both back criminal justice reforms. By Paul DeWolfe, Scott Shellenberger We are two unlikely allies on criminal justice reform: a longtime public defender and a longtime prosecutor. Although we represent opposing sides of a criminal case, and … Continue reading
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Washington Post
“Strengthen the Justice Reinvestment Act by repealing Maryland’s mandatory sentencing laws” Maryland legislators recently took an important first step toward improved public safety by introducing the Justice Reinvestment Act. This package of common-sense reforms will reduce Maryland’s unnecessarily large prison … Continue reading
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Federal Sentencing Reform
Friends Committee on National Legislation has an on-line tutorial about lobbying in Washington DC. FCNL also invites citizens to contact the representatives in Congress to support Justice Reinvestment for federal prisons. FCNL’s work on decarceration focuses on S2123, the Sentencing … Continue reading
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February Newsletter
See our February Newsletter which focuses on the 2016 Justice Reinvestment Act.
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January Newsletter
Justice Reinvestment Legislation Voting Rights veto override Collateral Consequences to be studied Unblocking the Exit View our January Newsletter here.
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What We Learned From German Prisons
New York Times Op-Ed: In Germany, we found that respect for human dignity provides palpable guidance to those who run its prisons. Through court-imposed rules, staff training and a shared mission, dignity is more than legal abstraction. The question to … Continue reading
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Common-sense justice reform in Md.
By Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. During the 2015 Legislative Session, Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law a bill establishing a “Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council,” that was to develop policies to “further reduce the state’s incarcerated population, reduce spending on corrections, … Continue reading
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Police Reforms scheduled
Maryland task force recommends 22 police reforms State lawmakers’ plans to boost police accountability and transparency took shape Monday as a task force approved 22 recommendations aimed at restoring trust in law enforcement. Democratic leaders in the Maryland General Assembly … Continue reading
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Maryland Restorative Justice Initiative
Unblocking the Exit: News! 1. Because of Maryland’s broken parole system, taxpayers have spent millions of dollars incarcerating people who could safely be released, most of whom are African American. 2. Maryland is one of only three states that require … Continue reading
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