# PETITION TO REINSTATE FEDERAL PAROLE

 

## TO: Members of Congress and the President of the United States

 

**WHEREAS,** the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 abolished federal parole for offenses committed after November 1, 1987, removing a critical path to reunification for families separated by incarceration; and

 

**WHEREAS,** the United States federal prison population has increased by over 500% since the elimination of federal parole, with approximately 158,000 people in federal custody as of 2024, contributing significantly to mass incarceration and prison overcrowding; and

 

**WHEREAS,** the current federal system of supervised release occurs only after a person has served their full sentence minus good time credits, rather than providing an incentive-based system that rewards rehabilitation; and

 

**WHEREAS,** research consistently demonstrates that well-designed parole systems enhance public safety by providing structured reintegration, reducing recidivism, and allowing for the supervised return of rehabilitated individuals to their communities; and

 

**WHEREAS,** the financial burden of maintaining the federal prison system without parole costs American taxpayers approximately $40.1 billion annually according to recent Bureau of Prisons budgets, with an average cost of over $40,000 per incarcerated person per year - money that could be better invested in education, healthcare, and community development; and

 

**WHEREAS,** many individuals currently serving federal sentences have demonstrated significant rehabilitation, earned educational achievements, maintained clean disciplinary records, and developed comprehensive reentry plans; and

 

**WHEREAS,** families across America are needlessly separated from their loved ones who could be productive community members under appropriate supervision; and

 

**WHEREAS,** numerous states have maintained successful parole systems that balance public safety with the opportunity for redemption, with recent reform efforts in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan showing promising results in reducing recidivism while maintaining public safety; and

 

**WHEREAS,** the First Step Act of 2018, while providing some modest reforms, does not adequately address the need for a comprehensive federal parole system and leaves many rehabilitated individuals without a meaningful path to earlier release; and

 

**WHEREAS,** recent polling indicates that over 70% of Americans across political affiliations support criminal justice reforms that include expanded parole opportunities for rehabilitated individuals;

 

**THEREFORE, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED,** petition the United States Congress and the President to:

 

1. Reinstate federal parole by passing legislation that establishes a fair and effective parole system for all federally incarcerated individuals, including those currently serving sentences.

 

2. Create a Federal Parole Commission with transparent guidelines that consider:

   - The nature and circumstances of the offense

   - The individual's institutional record and evidence of rehabilitation

   - Risk assessment based on validated tools

   - Comprehensive reentry plans

   - Input from victims, families, and communities

 

3. Implement retroactive eligibility for parole consideration after individuals have served a reasonable portion of their sentence, typically one-third, consistent with prior federal parole practices.

 

4. Establish clear pathways for elderly and medically vulnerable prisoners to receive compassionate release or medical parole.

 

5. Ensure that the reinstated parole system includes robust support services for successful reintegration, including housing assistance, employment opportunities, and continued rehabilitation programs.

 

## OUR STORIES

 

# Stories of Hope: How Reinstating Federal Parole Would Impact Families

 

## The Case for Reinstating Federal Parole

 

Federal parole was abolished in 1984 with the passage of the Sentencing Reform Act, which created the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and eliminated the possibility of early release for inmates who demonstrate rehabilitation. Nearly four decades later, the consequences of this policy change have created a crisis of mass incarceration, separated countless families, and failed to meaningfully improve public safety.

 

Today, over 160,000 people are incarcerated in federal prisons, many serving decades-long sentences with no possibility of parole regardless of their rehabilitation, institutional record, or growth. The human cost is borne not only by those behind bars but by their children, parents, spouses, and communities.

 

The following stories illustrate how reinstating federal parole would impact real families across America. These narratives represent just a fraction of the millions of Americans whose lives would be transformed by this critical reform.

 

## Maria's Story

"My husband Carlos has served 12 years of a 20-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. He's completed every rehabilitation program available, earned his GED and an associate's degree while inside. Our children were 6 and 8 when he went away—now they're teenagers who barely know their father outside of prison visits. 

 

If federal parole were reinstated, Carlos could potentially come home in the next year based on his exemplary record. He could watch our daughter graduate high school next spring, help our son navigate the challenges of adolescence, and contribute to our household income instead of costing taxpayers $40,000 a year to remain incarcerated. We've already lost so much time as a family that we can never get back."

 

## James's Story

"My brother Marcus is serving a 25-year sentence, with 14 years already completed. He's become a mentor to younger inmates, leads conflict resolution workshops, and hasn't had a single disciplinary action in over a decade. The judge who sentenced him has even written letters supporting sentence reconsideration, but without parole, there's no mechanism for early release despite his transformation.

 

Marcus has missed watching his children grow up. His oldest just had a baby—he's a grandfather now, but can only see photos. If parole were reinstated, he could be evaluated on the person he's become, not just the mistake he made at 23. Our entire family, including his children and now grandchild, would have a chance to heal and rebuild with him present. The financial and emotional burden on our elderly parents, who've been raising his kids, would finally be lifted."

 

## Diane's Story

"My son Kevin is seven years into a 15-year sentence. He was 19 when he went in—young, impulsive, and caught up with the wrong crowd. Now 26, he's earned his bachelor's degree through a prison education program and leads a peer support group for young inmates.

 

I'm a single mother with health issues that are worsening as I age. The 8-hour drive to visit him takes a physical toll I can barely manage anymore. My greatest fear is that my health will fail before he comes home. With parole, Kevin could be evaluated for release based on his rehabilitation, not just time served. He could care for me as my health declines, resume his education, and contribute to society rather than costing it. The current system offers us no hope for reunion until I'm well into my seventies, if I make it that long."

 

## Terrell's Story

"My wife Shanice has served 9 years of a 17-year sentence. Since being incarcerated, she's become a certified paralegal through prison programs and helps other inmates with their legal paperwork. She's also overcome her substance abuse issues that contributed to her crime.

 

I'm raising our three children alone while working two jobs to make ends meet. Our youngest was just a baby when she went away and has no real memories of her mother at home. Every year, I have to explain to the kids why their mother can't be at their birthdays, school events, or holiday celebrations.

 

If parole were reinstated, Shanice could potentially come home in the next couple of years based on her rehabilitation and good behavior. She could help shoulder the parenting responsibilities, provide a second income, and finally be the mother she's worked so hard to become worthy of being. Our children wouldn't have to grow up without her presence during their most formative years."

 

## Anthony's Story

"My father is serving a 30-year sentence, with 16 years completed so far. He was convicted of a drug conspiracy charge, where he was held accountable for the actions of others in the operation, even though he had a minimal role.

 

In prison, he's become a respected elder who mediates conflicts and mentors young men. He's completed every vocational program available to him and hasn't had a disciplinary incident in over a decade. At 62, his health is beginning to fail, and the cost of his medical care in prison is substantial.

 

My mother passed away last year, and I couldn't even get him furloughed to attend her funeral. I'm now the only family he has left. If parole were reinstated, he could be evaluated for release based on his age, health, rehabilitation, and minimal risk to society. He could spend his remaining years with his family instead of dying alone in a prison cell, despite all evidence showing he's no longer the person who committed that crime decades ago."

 

## Marie's Story

"My husband Ryan has served 11 years of a 20-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. He's completed every rehabilitation program available to him, including substance abuse treatment, anger management, and vocational training in welding and electrical work. He's also become a GED tutor for other inmates, helping dozens earn their high school equivalency.

 

The injustice of our situation weighs on us daily. Our oldest child was killed by a drunk driver three years ago—the driver served no prison time despite taking our child's life. Ryan wasn't even allowed to attend his daughter's funeral. Meanwhile, Ryan faces another 12 years for selling drugs, with no chance of early release despite his exemplary record.

 

Our remaining two sons, now 14 and 11, live with different relatives in different states because I couldn't manage alone after losing my child then my job due to the pandemic. One lives with my sister in Tennessee, the other with Ryan's mother in Ohio. The boys haven't seen each other in over two years. They haven't seen their father in person since he was transferred to a federal facility several states away five years ago. Letters and very limited phone calls are their only connection to their father and to each other.

 

If federal parole were reinstated, Ryan could potentially come home in the next year or two based on his clean disciplinary record and completion of all recommended programs. He could reunite our scattered family, help our boys process the grief of losing their sister, and rebuild our lives together. Without parole, our sons will be grown men by the time their father comes home—an entire childhood lost that we can never get back."

 

## Elena's Story

"My sister Lucia has served 8 years of a 14-year sentence. She's a first-time offender who got involved in her boyfriend's scheme out of misguided loyalty. Since being incarcerated, she's completed her GED, learned computer programming, and mentors other women.

 

She has an 11-year-old daughter who I've been raising. Each year, the emotional distance between them grows despite weekly phone calls and monthly visits. Her daughter is entering adolescence now—a time when she needs her mother most.

 

If parole were reinstated, Lucia could potentially come home in the next year based on her rehabilitation, programming, and low risk of recidivism. She could rebuild her relationship with her daughter during these critical years, resume her role as a mother, and put her new skills to use supporting her family instead of being separated from them."

 

## Robert's Story

"My son David is serving a 22-year sentence for a robbery he committed at 20 years old. He's served 11 years so far. The person he's become bears little resemblance to the troubled young man who committed that crime. He's earned multiple vocational certifications, leads anti-violence workshops, and has become a published writer through prison literary programs.

 

I'm now 72 years old and in declining health. Each visit becomes more difficult as my mobility decreases. My greatest fear is that I won't live to see him come home. Without parole, there's no mechanism to consider his remarkable transformation or the fact that keeping him incarcerated serves no public safety purpose at this point.

 

If parole were reinstated, David could potentially return home in the next few years to care for me in my final years. He could use his hard-earned skills to build a career and give back to the community he once harmed. Instead, we both continue to serve his sentence—him behind bars, and me in the shrinking time I have left without my son."

 

## Sandra's Story

"My son Jamal has served 10 years of a 25-year federal sentence for drug distribution. When he went in, he was 22 and had a 1-year-old daughter. Now she's 11 and knows her father only through prison visits that happen once a year at most, since we live 350 miles from the facility.

 

What makes our situation especially difficult is that Jamal's father is terminally ill with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Doctors give him less than a year. Jamal's greatest fear is not being able to reconcile with his father before he passes. We've applied for compassionate visitation multiple times, but the requests keep getting denied due to administrative technicalities.

 

Inside, Jamal has transformed his life. He's earned a paralegal certificate, leads a restorative justice program, and mentors young inmates. His warden has even written letters acknowledging his positive influence on the prison community. If federal parole were reinstated, Jamal would have a real chance at seeing his father before it's too late and being present in his daughter's life during her critical teenage years.

 

The current system offers no recognition of his rehabilitation, no consideration of family circumstances, and no hope for reunion until his daughter is grown. Reinstating parole would give families like ours a chance to heal together rather than suffering separately."

 

## The Broader Impact

These stories represent just a few of the estimated 160,000+ individuals in federal prison and their families who could benefit from reinstating federal parole. Beyond the personal impact, reinstating parole could:

 

- Reduce overcrowding in federal facilities

- Lower the enormous taxpayer burden of mass incarceration

- Incentivize rehabilitation and good behavior

- Strengthen family bonds critical to successful reentry

- Allow for case-by-case evaluation based on rehabilitation, risk, and readiness for return to society

- Reduce the collateral consequences of incarceration on children and families

- Provide a pathway to redemption that acknowledges human capacity for growth and change

 

## The Financial Burden on Taxpayers

 

The cost of incarcerating a single individual in the federal system averages over $40,000 per year. For elderly inmates, this cost can exceed $100,000 annually due to increased healthcare needs. Maintaining the current system without parole creates an unsustainable financial burden on taxpayers without corresponding public safety benefits.

 

By reinstating federal parole, we could:

 

- Save billions in taxpayer dollars that could be redirected to education, victim services, and community-based crime prevention

- Reduce overcrowding in federal facilities that contributes to unsafe conditions for both inmates and staff

- Allow for more resources to be directed toward rehabilitation programs rather than warehouse-style incarceration

- Create meaningful incentives for positive behavior and program participation

- Align federal practice with many state systems that have successfully implemented parole without compromising public safety

 

## The Human Cost of Separation

 

The stories shared here illustrate the devastating impact of long-term family separation:

 

- Children growing up without parents during crucial developmental periods

- Elderly parents and grandparents passing away while loved ones remain incarcerated

- Financial instability of single-parent households struggling to maintain connection

- Psychological trauma experienced by both the incarcerated and their families

- Communities losing potential contributors, leaders, and wage-earners

- The perpetuation of cycles of poverty and disconnection across generations

 

## A More Just Approach

 

Reinstating federal parole would not mean automatic release for all federal inmates. Rather, it would create a structured process for evaluating:

 

- Institutional behavior and disciplinary record

- Completion of educational and rehabilitative programming

- Risk assessment based on current behavior, not just past actions

- Release planning including housing, employment, and support systems

- Input from victims, community members, and families

- Readiness for successful reintegration into society

 

This approach recognizes that public safety is best served when we create pathways for rehabilitation and reintegration rather than indefinite punishment regardless of change.

 

## Join Our Call for Reform

 

We call on Congress to reinstate federal parole through comprehensive criminal justice reform legislation. The current system—with its rigid sentencing structures, lack of individualized consideration, and absence of meaningful second chances—has failed families, communities, and taxpayers alike.

 

By adding your voice to this petition, you join thousands of families like those represented here in calling for a more humane, effective, and fiscally responsible approach to justice that recognizes the possibility of redemption and the importance of family unity.

 

Together, we can create a federal justice system that prioritizes rehabilitation, restoration, and redemption over endless punishment.

 

## THE HUMAN IMPACT

 

The elimination of federal parole has devastated countless American families. Recent studies show that approximately 2.7 million children in the United States have an incarcerated parent, with an estimated 92,000 children having a parent in federal prison. Children grow up without parents, spouses become single providers, and elderly parents pass away while their children remain incarcerated—even when those individuals have been fully rehabilitated and pose no threat to public safety.

 

A 2023 study by the Prison Policy Initiative found that incarceration increases poverty rates by over 40% for families of the incarcerated, with the average family incurring over $13,000 in debt related to court costs, communication fees, and lost income.

 

Reinstating federal parole would:

- Reunite families and strengthen communities

- Reduce prison overcrowding and associated costs

- Provide incentives for rehabilitation and good behavior

- Allow for individualized consideration of each person's unique circumstances

- Restore hope to those currently serving sentences with no possibility of early release

 

## CONCLUSION

 

We believe in a justice system that balances accountability with the opportunity for redemption. By reinstating federal parole, our nation can take a significant step toward a more humane, effective, and fiscally responsible approach to justice.

 

We urge immediate action on this critical issue. Our families, communities, and country cannot afford to wait.