FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2014
Justice Advocates Support Sentencing Reform; HRM Urges Disciples to Call Their Senators
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Ministries (HRM) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) called on all Disciples committed to human rights and criminal justice reform to take action on prison sentencing reform by calling their senators on Wednesday, June 4, to voice their support for the bipartisan Smarter Sentencing Act. According to HRM Director Ford Rowan, "Our prisons are overcrowded with nonviolent offenders who are there on minor drug charges, most of them people of color and poor. Justice is not served by this unjust situation. People of faith need to speak out, and Congress needs to act."
The Smarter Sentencing Act, which has successfully passed the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and is now poised for a vote by the full Senate this month, would reduce racially disparate mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. It would also allow current prisoners serving outdated sentences for crack cocaine offenses to apply for a sentence reduction.
The National Council of Churches (NCC), of which the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a member, is prioritizing the issue of mass incarceration because of its tremendous impact on American populations over the past decades. Federal prisons are crowded with people serving excessive sentences for low-level and nonviolent drug crimes. Mandatory minimums have contributed to an 800% increase in the size of the federal prison population since 1980. This expensive system continues to grow and is squeezing out needed funding for crime prevention, victim services, and reentry. The Smarter Sentencing Act is a crucial step toward stopping this damaging trend.
HRM is urging Disciples to participate in a call-in campaign on Wednesday, June 4, to encourage their senators to support this much-needed legislation. Interested Disciples can call the Capitol Switchboard TWICE by dialing 1-888-427-0484, asking to speak to their state’s senators, and urging them both to support the Smarter Sentencing Act, S. 1410, and to request that their Senate leaders bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote this month. The following script has been provided:
“Hi, my name is ________, and as a constituent and member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I urge Senator ________ to support the Smarter Sentencing Act, S. 1410, and ask that the senator tell Senate leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote as soon as possible. Thank you for passing along my concerns.”
The following talking points are also recommended:
• “As a person of faith, I am concerned about the harsh mandatory minimum sentences Congress passed almost 30 years ago. They have created racial disparity in federal prisons and resulted in an 800% increase in the prison population since 1980.”
• “The bipartisan Smarter Sentencing Act is an incremental sentencing reform that would reduce the excessive penalties for low-level drug offenses. I support its passage and urge you to support it as well.”
• “The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Smarter Sentencing Act, and it is ready for a vote in the full Senate. Please urge Senate leadership to bring the bill to the floor for an immediate vote.”
In their conversations, Disciples should be sure to identify themselves as constituents and to thank the staff for listening to their concerns.
For more information, please contact HRM Director Ford Rowan at fordrowan@comcast.net.
