ADVOCACY INSIDER
Want to stay in-the-know on advocacy and criminal justice reform? Here's your chance! Read on for news and updates. 14 Senators Request Continued Funding for Prison Rape Elimination Act Implementation
Prison Fellowship recently brought the pressing need for continued funding of state implementation grants under the Prison Rape Elimination Act to the attention of the Senate. This resulted in 14 U.S. senators, including Sens. Cornyn, Grassley, Booker, and Durbin, sending a letter to the Senate Committee on Appropriations to request that they include continued funding for the implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in the FY 2018 budget. PREA was passed unanimously in 2003 after a bipartisan coalition of advocates and organizations increased awareness and sought legislation to end prison rape and sexual assault. Before implementation of this legislation, it was estimated that nearly 20 percent of people in prison would be subject to some form of sexual victimization. While preliminary data does not allow us to draw definitive conclusions about the law’s success, recent surveys indicate that less than 5 percent of adults in state and federal correctional facilities will report one or more incidents of sexual victimization in a one-year period.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner hosted a group of bipartisan senators last month to discuss a path forward for criminal justice reform. Interest in reforming the criminal justice system has increased in both the White House and Congress in recent months. Prison Fellowship has been particularly involved in the White House's effortsto seek positive reforms in the area of prisoner reentry. In recent weeks, the Senate has introduced both the CORRECTIONS Act and the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act. Prison Fellowship supports both pieces of legislation because they will help restore those affected by crime and incarceration in America.
On Oct. 19, Attorney General Jeff Sessions downplayed the importance of smart criminal justice reforms and claimed that the “tough-on-crime” policies of the ‘80s and ‘90s were a “humanitarian effort” to protect vulnerable communities. Prison Fellowship published an op-ed in The Oklahoman last week to respond to five myths that perpetuate the massive financial and human costs of the criminal justice quo status quo. Prison Fellowship works to achieve a criminal justice system that is founded on our shared values and on tested strategies to reduce crime, protect communities, and transform lives. Therefore, we must seek a justice system that is characterized by proportional sentences, a constructive culture, and the ability to secure a second chance as a productive member of our communities.
When youth commit crimes, removing them from families and locking them up has negative outcomes for them, their families, and their communities. Some alternatives to incarceration, like community programs, probation, and group homes, have proven to reduce recidivism by up to 22 percent and yield up to $13 in benefits for each dollar spent. Seventy-five percent of voters nationwide support such alternatives, and Prison Fellowship is now advocating for them in Alabama and Tennessee. Enacting these reforms will help ensure that our correctional systems respect the dignity of every youth, prioritize public safety, strengthen families, and provide opportunities for a second chance.
Laura Story, Mandisa, and more of your favorite Christian artists have an exclusive gift for you. Give $30 or more to Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program and download a special 10-song worship album.
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