Your call is needed to protect justice reform TODAY!

Take Action: The FIRST STEP Act – a prison reform-only bill that fails to make meaningful reforms to our justice system– is scheduled for a vote in the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday. Call members of the House Judiciary Committee now and tell them to oppose this sham legislation.

The Issue

The FIRST STEP Act is prison reform (“back-end” reform) legislation that does not include sentencing reform (“front-end” reform). As has been proven by states across the country, enacting legislation containing both front- and back-end reforms have successfully reduced rates of incarceration and crime. Changes to sentencing laws that eliminate mandatory minimums, restore judicial discretion, reduce the national prison population, and mitigate disparate impacts on communities of color are essential to justice reform. Any legislation that addresses only back-end reforms will fail in achieving this.

What can Congress do?

While reforms to address back-end drivers of our prison system are important, they cannot function as a substitute for front-end sentencing reform. The House Judiciary Committee members must OPPOSE the FIRST STEP Act and consider comprehensive reform legislation in order to meaningfully address the problems in the federal system.

The House Judiciary Committee will markup the FIRST STEP Act this Wednesday, and they need to hear from you!

Take Action: The FIRST STEP Act – a prison reform-only bill that fails to make meaningful reforms to our justice system– is scheduled for a vote in the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday. Call members of the House Judiciary Committee now and tell them to oppose this sham legislation.