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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.

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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!


APPLY

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.


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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.


DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

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%

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 REFORMS

ADVANCING 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 RIGHTS

TESTIMONY 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 TESTIMONY
PARTY CONTROL

President: Republican
House: Republican
Senate: Republican

SESSION CALENDAR

The U.S. House and Senate is in session throughout the year for certain days each month, except during August, when members of Congress spend the entire month on recess. See the detailed House calendar here and the Senate calendar here.

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 DECLARATION

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!

ENSURING PROPORTIONAL PUNISHMENT

The FIRST STEP Act was passed to reduce disproportional drug offenses and allow earn time credits to be awarded for program participation. Contact lawmakers to request they fully implement the law and maximize its potential!

TAKE ACTION

ADVANCING CONSTRUCTIVE PRISON CULTURE

Studies have revealed that participation in education programs during incarceration has resulted in a 43% lower recidivism rate. Encourage lawmakers to restore Pell Grant access behind bars to offer hope and higher education to incarcerated men and women.

TAKE ACTION

UNLOCKING
SECOND CHANCES

The Fair Chance Act allows formerly incarcerated individuals to show their talents, skills, & commitment to personal growth as they compete in labor markets. Ask lawmakers to support second chances through this thoughtful approach to criminal justice.

TAKE ACTION

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