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In #PA we send too many people to prison for too long. There are thousands of people in PA’s prisons whose incarceration serves no further purpose. All of us change and mature, and our laws should reflect that - PA must expand opportunities for #SecondChances.
FAMM’s #SecondChances agenda in Pennsylvania includes:
• Ending life without parole #LWOP
• Allowing medical/elderly release & expanding compassionate release
• Expanding clemency
Read more: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/PA-Second-Chances-Agenda.pdf
• Ending life without parole #LWOP
• Allowing medical/elderly release & expanding compassionate release
• Expanding clemency
Read more: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/PA-Second-Chances-Agenda.pdf
PA’s lack of #SecondChances has contributed to our overall prison population ballooning since the early 80s.
In 1980, PA had 8,243 people living in its prisons. By the end of 2013, our prison population grew to 51,512 people.
In 1980, PA had 8,243 people living in its prisons. By the end of 2013, our prison population grew to 51,512 people.
PA has begun to see a decline in our prison population over the last 8 years. @CorrectionsPA 2019 “Crimelines” report shows a 4,387 person reduction in overall population since 2012, along with a 29% drop in crime over the same period in #PA. https://bit.ly/3hqsnn3
Although Pennsylvania has begun to reduce its prison population, due to a lack of mechanisms for #SecondChances, the increase in the number of people serving long and #LWOP sentences continues.
In 1980, there were 1,263 people in the PA DOC serving long-term sentences of 10+ years - 15.3% of our total state prison population.
By 2012, that number exploded to 12,493 people living in PA DOC serving long-term sentences - 24.4% of our total prison population.
By 2012, that number exploded to 12,493 people living in PA DOC serving long-term sentences - 24.4% of our total prison population.
In 2018, 14,100 people, or 29.8% of the total PA state prison population were serving long-term sentences.
The population serving #LWOP sentences in PA DOC keeps getting bigger and older, in large part because we categorically deny the opportunity for #SecondChances for this group of people.
In 1980, PA had 848 people serving life sentences, with an average age of 33.6.
By 2012 that number ballooned to 5,121 people serving life sentences, the average age increasing to 45.5.
By 2012 that number ballooned to 5,121 people serving life sentences, the average age increasing to 45.5.
In 2018, while the overall state prison population was experiencing a decline, PA had amassed 5,458 people serving life sentences, with an average age of 48.5.
PA must also reckon with the historical disproportionate harm caused to Black communities and communities of color through limiting #SecondChances for folks sentenced to #LWOP.
In PA, Black people serve #LWOP at a rate 18x greater than white people. Latinx folks in PA serve #LWOP at a rate 5x that of white people.
65% of the people serving #LWOP sentences in PA are Black. https://bit.ly/2CZko1g
65% of the people serving #LWOP sentences in PA are Black. https://bit.ly/2CZko1g
Ending LWOP in PA would allow the many people who have changed and matured over time an opportunity for #SecondChances.
People like Charles Brown who is using his second chance to strengthen his community after serving 36 years of a LWOP sentence. https://famm.org/stories/charles-brown-moving-forward-to-give-back/
People like Charles Brown who is using his second chance to strengthen his community after serving 36 years of a LWOP sentence. https://famm.org/stories/charles-brown-moving-forward-to-give-back/
We now have more than 10,000 people over the age of 50 living in our state prisons. Many of these people have already spent decades enriching their prison communities and would be mentors and leaders in their home communities if given #SecondChances. https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/an-aging-prison-population-is-straining-pa-s-corrections-budget-could-medical-parole-be-the-answer/
. @CorrectionsPA 2020-2021 budget says they spend $3.2 million monthly on prescriptions for people over age 50; and there are more than 400 people in long-term skilled and personal care units at a cost of $500 each day per person. https://bit.ly/30Dl3h9
Incarcerated people often feel the effects of aging sooner than those of us outside prison walls, and the cost of incarcerating older people with chronic illnesses is around two to three times higher than younger folks. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2018/02/20/aging-prison-populations-drive-up-costs
Maintaining an enormous population of older and sick people in our prisons is expensive, unnecessary, & unjust. Passing medical/geriatric release and expanding compassionate release would provide elderly and sick incarcerated people pathways to relief. https://theappeal.org/pennsylvania-has-few-options-to-release-elderly-prisoners-as-covid-19-spreads/
In PA, clemency is the only pathway to #SecondChances for people serving #LWOP or death sentences. Before 1997, a 3-2 majority of the Board of Pardons was required for a person seeking clemency to advance to the governor. Now applicants must receive a unanimous 5-0 vote.
PA’s clemency system was robust in the ‘70s - between ‘71 and ‘78, the Board supported clemency for 267 people serving life sentences, and Governor Shapp approved #SecondChances for 251 of those people.
The unanimous Board of Pardons vote requirement and failed tough-on-crime policies contributed to a near stoppage of clemency for this population - only 25 people serving life sentences in PA have been granted clemency in the last 25 years.
. @FAMMFoundation is hopeful that PA will substantially expand clemency. Last year, under Board of Pardons Chair Lt. Gov. @JohnFetterman, the Board supported #SecondChances through clemency for 17 people serving #LWOP, of which @GovernorTomWolf has signed 14.
Expanding clemency in PA would allow more people serving excessive sentences a pathway toward #SecondChances. The Board of Pardons is meeting this week to vote on people coming before them asking for mercy and they need to hear from you! https://secure.everyaction.com/K7WwF1wifESymDhKH26iRg2
Two of the people seeking clemency before the PA Board of Pardons this week are brothers Dennis and Lee Horton, who both are deserving of #SecondChances: https://famm.org/stories/success-on-the-inside-to-be-the-men-we-were-taught-to-be/
PA’s approach to sentencing is wasteful, separates families, exacerbates racial disparities, & deprives people who have made mistakes of nearly any opportunity for redemption.
Join us in the fight for #SecondChances. Together we can make a difference! https://secure.everyaction.com/XcIk7L7uq0yKGf-6HUsf-g2
Join us in the fight for #SecondChances. Together we can make a difference! https://secure.everyaction.com/XcIk7L7uq0yKGf-6HUsf-g2
