Decarceration101.org:

Please sign our petition and encourage legislators to end the practice of Mass Incarceration.

Mass incarceration has a profound and damaging impact on families across America. This issue has been exacerbated over the years by various presidential administrations and their policies. Many of these policies have led to excessively harsh sentencing, a focus on punishment rather than genuine rehabilitation, devastation of mental health, degradation of human dignity, loss of rights, and a staggering annual cost to taxpayers of $64 billion.

Former President Bill Clinton acknowledged that the crime bill of 1994, which was architected by Joe Biden and Orrin Hatch, “we flat got it wrong with that bill”. Admitting that is great, however, the damage and devastation has been done. Clinton later stated that this legislation was a mistake, saying, “We flat got it wrong with that bill.” While it's commendable that he recognized this misstep, the damage inflicted has already been significant. This highlights the urgent need for Decarceration—an approach aimed at reducing incarceration rates and allowing inmates to revisit their sentences with their judges.

For instance, I know of an inmate who faced a 40-year sentence for possessing six ounces of ecstasy with no prior offenses. Another individual received a life sentence for a purse-snatching incident in which a shot was fired into the air.

The Decarceration movement aims to reform the bail system and the three-strikes law, as well as reevaluating how parole is handled. Every aspect of the system requires scrutiny to ensure fairness, equal rights, and the restoration of human dignity.

In Texas, the 89th legislature will convene in January 2025, where important bills will be introduced, including the Second Look Act, which will allow inmates under 18 sentenced to life to become eligible for parole after 20 years instead of 40. Additionally, the Earned Time Act aims to allow inmates to earn reductions in their sentences through work, moving away from exploitative practices permitted by the 13th Amendment.

Many states are considering similar legislation, and I encourage you to visit Decarceration101.org to connect with your federal and state representatives. You can find information about state-specific bills, join petitions, receive updates, and participate in our Decarceration101.org Zoom call to be held on the third Friday of each month starting in October 2024. Make a commitment to share this petition with at least five people to help us reach our goal of a million+ signers to encourage legislators to end Mass Incarceration! Let’s come together to drive this movement and effect meaningful change!

** Why It Matters: **
In the United States, around 113 million people have experienced incarceration—many families have been torn apart, and it leads to significant barriers in housing, government assistant programs, and employment. 

The consequences are dire: human dignity is compromised, mental health is severely affected, and living conditions in prisons can be brutal and unacceptable. Numerous prisons are allowed to function without air-conditioning. Only about 30% of Texas prisons are fully air-conditioned—a prison in Texas recorded an internal temperature of 149° during the summer of 2022. These extreme temperatures result in many heat-related deaths. Cruelty is not Justice and unfortunately, many states have prioritized punishment over rehabilitation. 

The financial burden of housing these individuals is staggering, with the U.S. spending $64 billion annually on incarceration. Costs can vary dramatically, from $23,000 per person in Arkansas to a staggering $307,468 in Massachusetts. It's time for a change!