Take Action to Stop a Harmful Sentencing Bill - Oppose SB 285
Unjust bill would roll back gains made in sentencing reform provided by SB 483, which was signed into law in 2022
Felony Murder Elimination Project would like to call on our advocates and supporters to help us stop a very harmful sentencing bill.
Due to a recent gut and amend, Senate Bill 285 (Ben Allen SD24) would unjustly exclude incarcerated people sentenced to death, life without parole, and indeterminate life sentence from accessing relief under Senate Bill 483. SB483 went into effect in 2022 to correct prior excessive sentencing enhancements by striking down mandatory sentencing enhancements based on a person's prior convictions.
Action steps:
- First, find your state representatives and their contact information.
- Call your state representatives and letting them know that you OPPOSE SB 285 (Allen). Sample script: "Hello, my name is (name here), and I am a resident of (city of county) calling to strongly oppose Senator Allen's bill SB 285. Thank you!
- Help us spread the word and post the graphic in this post on your social media pages.
Extreme sentences like death, life without parole, and indeterminate life are precisely the sentences that need the review opportunity, resulting from the repealed sentence enhancements, offered by the passage of SB 483. Excluding those sentences, as SB 285 aims to do, would significantly limit the benefits offered in SB483.
As always, we are deeply in gratitude for the advocacy of our supporters, and we promise to continue our work alongside all of your in promoting and supporting bills that advance our shared values of a fairer criminal justice system.
