Featured Campaign Second Look Network Ending mass incarceration requires taking a second look at extreme sentences. Learn more about our coalition of legal professionals providing direct representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences.
Featured Campaign 50 Years and a Wake Up This year marks the 50th year since the U.S. prison population began its unprecedented surge. Partner with us to end mass incarceration!
Featured Publication One in Five One in five Black men born in 2001 is likely to experience imprisonment within their lifetime. Our four-part “One in Five” series examines racial inequities in America’s criminal legal system, as well as highlights promising reforms.
The Second Look Movement: A Review of the Nation’s Sentence Review Laws Our new report highlights the evolution and growing momentum of the second look movement around the country. Read the report Latest Reports Report Mass Incarceration Trends Publication Protect and Redirect: America’s Growing Movement to Divert Youth Out of the Justice System Fact Sheet How Mandatory Minimums Perpetuate Mass Incarceration and What to Do About It The Sentencing Project Over 35 Years of Fighting for Justice We advocate for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justice. Key Issues Learn about our key areas of focus to end mass incarceration and promote racial justice. Learn more about our issues Groundbreaking Research Explore our trusted research on the U.S. criminal legal system. Get the data, compare state statistics, and search resources in our comprehensive digital library. Explore our research Fighting for Real Change Join us in the fight to advance policies that are rooted in research and promote humane and effective approaches to justice for youth and adults. Join our fight Mission, Vision, and Priorities See how we're advancing a more equitable criminal legal system that promotes the full inclusion of people with criminal records and puts an end to extreme punishments. Learn more about our mission Advocacy Second Look Network Launched in 2023, the Second Look Network is a coalition of attorneys and mitigation specialists across the country providing direct legal representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences. We provide a safe and confidential space for collaboration, training, support, and encouragement. Learn more about the Second Look Network Experiences Amplifying Impacted Voices John Pace Sentenced to life in prison as a teen, John Pace spent 31 years behind bars before a Supreme Court decision brought him home. Now, he works to assist others who are coming out of prison and adjusting to life on the outside. It's time for a second look Monica Szlekovics Monica Szlekovics was forced to contribute to crimes by her abusive husband, which led to her being sentenced to life in prison at 20 years old. In prison, she committed herself to personal transformation and her sentence was commuted in 2019. Gender justice must tell #HerWholeTruth Tevin Louis In 2012, Tevin Louis was charged with felony murder after a police officer killed his friend. In 2021, Illinois narrowed the scope of its felony murder rule, but unless it’s applied retroactively, Tevin will have to serve a 52-year sentence. It's time to end extreme sentences Melody Brown When Melody Brown’s husband was murdered, she never thought she would be able to forgive the man who killed him. However, she was able to find mercy and forgiveness, and even supported the man’s release under Washington, DC’s second look reforms. Now, she’s working at a local nonprofit to support formerly incarcerated people in the District. We must recognize the power of second chances Experiences Amplifying Impacted Voices Monica Szlekovics Monica Szlekovics was forced to contribute to crimes by her abusive husband, which led to her being sentenced to life in prison at 20 years old. In prison, she committed herself to personal transformation and her sentence was commuted in 2019. Gender justice must tell #HerWholeTruth Melody Brown When Melody Brown’s husband was murdered, she never thought she would be able to forgive the man who killed him. However, she was able to find mercy and forgiveness, and even supported the man’s release under Washington, DC’s second look reforms. Now, she’s working at a local nonprofit to support formerly incarcerated people in the District. We must recognize the power of second chances John Pace Sentenced to life in prison as a teen, John Pace spent 31 years behind bars before a Supreme Court decision brought him home. Now, he works to assist others who are coming out of prison and adjusting to life on the outside. It's time for a second look Tevin Louis In 2012, Tevin Louis was charged with felony murder after a police officer killed his friend. In 2021, Illinois narrowed the scope of its felony murder rule, but unless it’s applied retroactively, Tevin will have to serve a 52-year sentence. It's time to end extreme sentences Get Involved Help End Mass Incarceration and Racial Injustice Support our groundbreaking research, advocacy, and public education programs and help fight to end mass incarceration and racial injustice. Change needs to happen now?and together, we can make a difference. Donate
Latest Reports Report Mass Incarceration Trends Publication Protect and Redirect: America’s Growing Movement to Divert Youth Out of the Justice System Fact Sheet How Mandatory Minimums Perpetuate Mass Incarceration and What to Do About It
Publication Protect and Redirect: America’s Growing Movement to Divert Youth Out of the Justice System
The Sentencing Project Over 35 Years of Fighting for Justice We advocate for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justice. Key Issues Learn about our key areas of focus to end mass incarceration and promote racial justice. Learn more about our issues Groundbreaking Research Explore our trusted research on the U.S. criminal legal system. Get the data, compare state statistics, and search resources in our comprehensive digital library. Explore our research Fighting for Real Change Join us in the fight to advance policies that are rooted in research and promote humane and effective approaches to justice for youth and adults. Join our fight Mission, Vision, and Priorities See how we're advancing a more equitable criminal legal system that promotes the full inclusion of people with criminal records and puts an end to extreme punishments. Learn more about our mission
Key Issues Learn about our key areas of focus to end mass incarceration and promote racial justice. Learn more about our issues
Groundbreaking Research Explore our trusted research on the U.S. criminal legal system. Get the data, compare state statistics, and search resources in our comprehensive digital library. Explore our research
Fighting for Real Change Join us in the fight to advance policies that are rooted in research and promote humane and effective approaches to justice for youth and adults. Join our fight
Mission, Vision, and Priorities See how we're advancing a more equitable criminal legal system that promotes the full inclusion of people with criminal records and puts an end to extreme punishments. Learn more about our mission
Advocacy Second Look Network Launched in 2023, the Second Look Network is a coalition of attorneys and mitigation specialists across the country providing direct legal representation to incarcerated individuals seeking relief from lengthy or unfair sentences. We provide a safe and confidential space for collaboration, training, support, and encouragement. Learn more about the Second Look Network
Experiences Amplifying Impacted Voices John Pace Sentenced to life in prison as a teen, John Pace spent 31 years behind bars before a Supreme Court decision brought him home. Now, he works to assist others who are coming out of prison and adjusting to life on the outside. It's time for a second look Monica Szlekovics Monica Szlekovics was forced to contribute to crimes by her abusive husband, which led to her being sentenced to life in prison at 20 years old. In prison, she committed herself to personal transformation and her sentence was commuted in 2019. Gender justice must tell #HerWholeTruth Tevin Louis In 2012, Tevin Louis was charged with felony murder after a police officer killed his friend. In 2021, Illinois narrowed the scope of its felony murder rule, but unless it’s applied retroactively, Tevin will have to serve a 52-year sentence. It's time to end extreme sentences Melody Brown When Melody Brown’s husband was murdered, she never thought she would be able to forgive the man who killed him. However, she was able to find mercy and forgiveness, and even supported the man’s release under Washington, DC’s second look reforms. Now, she’s working at a local nonprofit to support formerly incarcerated people in the District. We must recognize the power of second chances Experiences Amplifying Impacted Voices Monica Szlekovics Monica Szlekovics was forced to contribute to crimes by her abusive husband, which led to her being sentenced to life in prison at 20 years old. In prison, she committed herself to personal transformation and her sentence was commuted in 2019. Gender justice must tell #HerWholeTruth Melody Brown When Melody Brown’s husband was murdered, she never thought she would be able to forgive the man who killed him. However, she was able to find mercy and forgiveness, and even supported the man’s release under Washington, DC’s second look reforms. Now, she’s working at a local nonprofit to support formerly incarcerated people in the District. We must recognize the power of second chances John Pace Sentenced to life in prison as a teen, John Pace spent 31 years behind bars before a Supreme Court decision brought him home. Now, he works to assist others who are coming out of prison and adjusting to life on the outside. It's time for a second look Tevin Louis In 2012, Tevin Louis was charged with felony murder after a police officer killed his friend. In 2021, Illinois narrowed the scope of its felony murder rule, but unless it’s applied retroactively, Tevin will have to serve a 52-year sentence. It's time to end extreme sentences
John Pace Sentenced to life in prison as a teen, John Pace spent 31 years behind bars before a Supreme Court decision brought him home. Now, he works to assist others who are coming out of prison and adjusting to life on the outside. It's time for a second look
Monica Szlekovics Monica Szlekovics was forced to contribute to crimes by her abusive husband, which led to her being sentenced to life in prison at 20 years old. In prison, she committed herself to personal transformation and her sentence was commuted in 2019. Gender justice must tell #HerWholeTruth
Tevin Louis In 2012, Tevin Louis was charged with felony murder after a police officer killed his friend. In 2021, Illinois narrowed the scope of its felony murder rule, but unless it’s applied retroactively, Tevin will have to serve a 52-year sentence. It's time to end extreme sentences
Melody Brown When Melody Brown’s husband was murdered, she never thought she would be able to forgive the man who killed him. However, she was able to find mercy and forgiveness, and even supported the man’s release under Washington, DC’s second look reforms. Now, she’s working at a local nonprofit to support formerly incarcerated people in the District. We must recognize the power of second chances
Monica Szlekovics Monica Szlekovics was forced to contribute to crimes by her abusive husband, which led to her being sentenced to life in prison at 20 years old. In prison, she committed herself to personal transformation and her sentence was commuted in 2019. Gender justice must tell #HerWholeTruth
Melody Brown When Melody Brown’s husband was murdered, she never thought she would be able to forgive the man who killed him. However, she was able to find mercy and forgiveness, and even supported the man’s release under Washington, DC’s second look reforms. Now, she’s working at a local nonprofit to support formerly incarcerated people in the District. We must recognize the power of second chances
John Pace Sentenced to life in prison as a teen, John Pace spent 31 years behind bars before a Supreme Court decision brought him home. Now, he works to assist others who are coming out of prison and adjusting to life on the outside. It's time for a second look
Tevin Louis In 2012, Tevin Louis was charged with felony murder after a police officer killed his friend. In 2021, Illinois narrowed the scope of its felony murder rule, but unless it’s applied retroactively, Tevin will have to serve a 52-year sentence. It's time to end extreme sentences
Get Involved Help End Mass Incarceration and Racial Injustice Support our groundbreaking research, advocacy, and public education programs and help fight to end mass incarceration and racial injustice. Change needs to happen now?and together, we can make a difference. Donate
