“Tinkering with Life: A Look at the Inappropriateness of Life Without Parole as an Alternative to the Death Penalty” explores the use of life without parole, now standing at more than 41,000 sentences nationwide and representing a 300% increase over the past two decades. The abolition of the death penalty in several states in recent years allows deliberations about punishment to expand and to consider the appropriateness of other sanctions.

Police: Racial Impact of Expanded Police Presence in Schools
Incarceration: White Incarceration Rates Increase, Black Rates Decline
Legislation: IL Legislation Would Track Race of People Committed to Illinois Prisons
Dallas DA Wants Texas Racial Justice Act
Research: Implicit Bias in the Criminal Justice System

The Sentencing Project is an active member of the National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition and assisted in the writing recommendations to the Obama Administration.   With strong federal leadership, the pace of juvenile justice reforms can be accelerated. Research over the past 20 years has increased our understanding of what works and how to best approach juvenile delinquency and system reform. The Obama Administration has the opportunity and responsibility to restore an effective system of juvenile justice for our youth.

Gov. Bobby Jindal announced a series of legislative proposals Friday to the state's criminal justice system. Two of the three bills aim to overhaul certain aspects of the state's juvenile justice system. The third would expand the state's drug rehabilitation program and allow some non-violent repeat drug offenders eligible for early release.

Flanked by stakeholders and legislators from both parties, Jindal said the proposals are aimed to help troubled youth, reduce recidivism and improve drug rehabilitation programs, while also lowering costs by reducing incarceration numbers.  He also said that the changes would save Louisiana millions of dollars, allowing the state to reinvest the savings in the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

The shift from incarceration-heavy legislation to a focus on mental health and rehabilitation is as much a function of changing attitudes as it is of tough economic times.

The Sentencing Project submitted written testimony today to a U.S. Senate panel considering proposals for reducing gun violence in our communities and schools.  Unfortunately, when crises strike, there is often a temptation to tighten sanctions and add new punishments, but we know that these actions have a disparate effect on at-risk youth—especially youth of color—long after the crisis has passed.  Real, sustainable public safety is most effectively achieved by involving an array of stakeholders, including law enforcement, courts, schools, health and social service providers, and other community organizations to work collaboratively on evidence-based youth safety interventions.