Fighting Mass Incarceration in the 119th US Congress
As was discussed in this blog last week, the era of expanding Mass Incarceration in the United States is upon us. The current US Presidential administration and many states, ascribing to a "tough on crime" rhetoric based on fear and misinformation while being largely devoid of fact-based evidence, are driving policy that aims to roll back the many gains made by decarceration advocates.
That said, there's still work to be done and meaningful gains that can be achieved through advocacy despite the prevailing headwinds.
The Sentencing Project released a federal advocacy toolkit, where you’ll find key legislative priorities outlined for the 119th Congress across the organization's campaigns;
- End extreme sentencing
- Expand voting rights
- Promote youth justice
The toolkit includes guides on how to meet with your Congressional representatives and their staff, raise your voice through op-eds, and speak out on social media.
Advocacy holds Congress accountable. Advocacy can create second chances, restore people’s right to vote, and make our youth justice system more humane. In the US House of Representatives, the Republican Party holds a very slim 4-seat majority (218 GOP, 214 Dem), with three vacant seats needing to be filled. In the Senate, the GOP holds a 53-47 seat edge, but due to Senate filibuster rules, most legislation needs 60 votes to pass the upper chamber.
What does that all mean? Neither of those margins are insurmountable, and loud, clear, authoritative advocacy from voters and citizens can make all the difference.
Despite the messaging, no mandate was delivered in November 2024. The work is still there and goals toward a more fair and just carceral system are still achievable. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Download the Sentencing Project's Federal Advocacy toolkit here --->> Toolkit for fighting mass incarceration in the 119th Congress
