Federal Justice Reform
Tell the President and Congress to declare April as Second Chance Month so those who have paid their debt can reach their God-given potential!
Donate Your Signature for Second Chances!With 40 years of experience helping restore men and women behind bars, Prison Fellowship advocates for federal and state criminal justice reforms that transform those responsible for crime, validate victims, and encourage communities to play a role in creating a safe, redemptive, and just society. At the federal level, our priorities include prison reform, sentencing reform and ensuring resources for reentry.
WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
DONATE YOUR TIME
Seeking Justice Advocate Volunteers. We will equip you to advance justice through events, social media, and building relationships with your federal legislators!
TELL YOUR STORY
Did you or a family member receive an unfair federal sentence or haven’t been able to access quality programming in federal prison? One testimony at a time, we can advance justice that restores.
LEARN MORE
Named after Prison Fellowship’s founder, the Chuck Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections released this report and recommendations to transform federal corrections and restore lives.
FEDERAL STATISTICS
Prisoners in custody of the Bureau of Prisons: 187,300
Since 1980, the number of federal prisoners has grown by over 750%, while the U.S. population has only grown by slightly more than 40%.
Almost half of individuals who are sentenced for a federal drug crime do not have any prior criminal history
The average length of time served by federal prisoners increased by more than 150% between 1986 and 2012
High-Security Facilities Over Capacity: 52%
PRIORITY ISSUES AND LEGISLATION
Prison Fellowship has been active on Capitol Hill for decades, lobbying the Administration and Congress to support groundbreaking reforms to make communities safer, respect victims, and transform lives. No matter what state you call home, you can be part of our federal justice reform campaigns!
REFORM UNJUST SENTENCES
Half of federal prisoners are serving lengthy sentences for
non-violent drug crimes.
Raise your voice for more proportional sentences!
Click here to learn more.
TRANSFORM PRISONS
Let’s transform incarceration from a period of incapacitation to transformation!
Contact your members of Congress in support of meaningful programs that prepare people in prison to come home as better neighbors.
More information is available here.
UNLOCK SECOND CHANCES
You can help returning neighbors get the tools they need to succeed during reentry! Donate your signature in support of continued funding for Second Chance programs that provide mentoring, substance abuse treatment, job training, and more.
More information is available here.
PRISON FELLOWSHIP'S FEDERAL HISTORY
For over 30 years, Prison Fellowship has been active on Capitol Hill, lobbying Congress to support reforms to make communities safer, respect victims, and transform lives. Prison Fellowship played a leading role in working with Members of Congress to pass groundbreaking criminal justice reforms, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (1993), the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (2000), the Prison Rape Elimination Act (2000), Second Chance Act (2008), the Fair Sentencing Act (2010), the establishment of the Chuck Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections (2014), and the 21st Century Cures Act (2016). Several Members of Congress belong to Prison Fellowship’s Faith & Justice Fellowship, a bipartisan body of policymakers motivated by their various faith traditions to advance restorative values in the criminal justice system.
VIEW TIMELINE OF FEDERAL REFORMSADVANCING HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL PRISON REFORM
Read Prison Fellowship's Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy Craig DeRoche's Testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Advancing Human Rights Through International Prison Reform Hearing (Jan. 17, 2018).
ADVANCING HUMAN RIGHTSTESTIMONY OF HEATHER RICE-MINUS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION
Presented on March 14, 2018, by Heather Rice-Minus, vice president of government affairs at Prison Fellowship. This testimony was given before the United States Sentencing Commission during a public hearing on proposed amendments to the sentencing guidelines for first offenders and alternatives to incarceration.
READ THE TESTIMONYPresident: Republican
House: Republican
Senate: Republican
SIGN THE JUSTICE DECLARATION!
Grounded in biblical values and signed by over 100 Christian leaders, the Justice Declaration is a call to the Church to deploy its unique and unparalleled capacity to respond to crime and over-incarceration.
SIGN THE DECLARATION10 TIPS FOR MEETING WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR
When your Representative or Senator is home in the state or district on recess, it’s a great time for you to request a meeting and share why you care about justice reform.