[Courtesy of the Sentencing Project]

Dear Friend:

The Sentencing Project has released a new study reporting growing momentum for sentencing reform designed to limit prison population growth and reduce ballooning corrections budgets in the United States.

Changing Direction? State Sentencing Reforms 2004-2006 finds that at least 22 states have enacted sentencing reforms in the past three years. The report further identifies that the most popular approach for reducing prison crowding -- implemented by 13 states -- was the diversion of low-level drug offenders from prison to drug treatment programs. Additional policy changes included:

-Expansion of alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders.
-Parole and probation reforms designed either to reduce time served in prison or to provide supervision options to reduce the number of revocations to prison.
-Broader sentencing reform, such as modifying controversial mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

Changing Direction? State Sentencing Reforms 2004-2006 argues that in order to build on these positive legislative developments, lawmakers must continue to enact evidence-based criminal justice policies.

Recommendations of The Sentencing Project urge that policymakers:

-Expand the use of drug treatment as a sentencing option.
-Utilize intermediate sanctions for technical violations of parole and probation.
-Repeal mandatory minimum sentences.
-Reconsider sentence lengths.

Follow this link to download a copy of the report, http://sentencingproject.org/Admin/Documents/publications/sentencingrefo...

The Sentencing Project
514 10th St, NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004

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