Civil and Human Rights Coalition Urges Continued Action on Sentencing Reform, Responds to House Bill

Media 02.11.16

WASHINGTON – Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement regarding today’s House Judiciary Committee mark-up of pending bipartisan sentencing reform legislation:

“The opportunity to pass bipartisan sentencing reform legislation is now. The bill marked up in the House today is not as strong as its Senate companion, but we are encouraged that the process continues to move forward.

This legislation has some promise, including the ability for people to earn time credits for participating in rehabilitation programs and for the elderly to petition for early release. But we are deeply concerned about the use of risk assessments that may compound the racial disparities that already exist in the federal system because they have to include factors that have no bearing on someone’s likelihood to commit a crime, such as their neighborhood or whether family members have criminal history. 

This bill also leaves out key parts of the Senate’s reform package, including fairer sentences for juveniles sentenced to life without parole and a ban on solitary confinement for juveniles, the compassionate release of sick individuals, and the ability for people who have reformed their lives to have records expunged or sealed.

The civil rights community wants to continue this process to send the strongest legislation possible to the president. We urge Congress to improve this bill so it actually makes a difference in the lives of Americans.”

Nancy Zirkin is executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

 

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