Humane Sentencing 2005
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If
you believe that a 5, 10, or 20 year prison sentence for a first-time,
low-level, non-violent drug offender is unjust and inhumane,
then we’d like you to help the Interfaith Drug Policy
Initiative (IDPI) mobilize enough religious groups and people
of faith nationwide to gain substantial Congressional support
for the repeal of mandatory sentencing and presidential pardons
for the most outrageous cases like Hamedah Hasan’s.
Why join us?
Harsh mandatory sentences are the main culprit responsible for
the exploding prison population. These unduly long sentences
are often grossly out of proportion to the nature and severity
of the crimes. They are violations of human rights and a waste
of scarce criminal justice resources. The continued incarceration
of such offenders tramples on the core values of mercy, justice
and compassion shared by all of the world’s major religions.
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Religious Groups Opposing
Mandatory Sentencing
U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops
National Council of Churches
United Methodist Church
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Episcopal Church
Union for Reform Judaism
Church of the Brethren Witness
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ
Church Women United
… and many more!
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Prison is the most expensive and least effective means of dealing
with the problems of drug abuse and addiction. Mandatory sentencing
laws prevent judges from considering other factors such as the defendant’s
role in the offense, likelihood of committing a future offense, or
the role of drug addiction. These laws have been called “the
new Jim Crow laws” by many experts because of the drastically
disproportionate impact they are having on communities of color.
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“I
want us to do with mandatory minimums what we did with
debt relief. I can recall how the interfaith |
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took the issue of debt relief, Jubilee 2000,….and
brought some of the top leaders to their knees.
That’s the kind of effort that I think will make
the difference.” |
-Rep.
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
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After two decades of mandatory minimum sentencing, drugs are
easier to get, purer and cheaper.
People of faith can no longer sit by idly as the United States
secures its role as the leading incarcerator in world history.
In order to restore justice and compassion to America, we must
start by repealing mandatory minimum sentencing.
The time for a change is now. |
Most of the largest religious denominations have taken positions opposing
mandatory sentencing, and no denominations have a position supporting
it. Few issues have such widespread consensus among religious groups.
Religious groups are adding their voices to the NAACP, U.S. Sentencing
Commission, American Bar Association, and many others in calling for
this change.
That’s
why the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative is spearheading a
campaign to show our political leaders that the moral choice
is clear on this issue. Politicians need our help to have the
courage to vote for what is right.
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The average federal prison sentence
for a first-time drug offense exceeds the average sentence
for sexual abuse, assault, manslaughter, or burglary!
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In a very short
time, IDPI has proven to be uniquely qualified to take on this challenge.
On September 21, we held a lobbying event at the U.S. Capitol with
religious leaders and members of Congress to highlight the religious
support. We worked closely with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) to unveil
this religious support in conjunction with the introduction of her
bill to repeal mandatory sentencing.
Our event was just in time to weigh in against another bill that would
have massively expanded the use of mandatory sentencing (H.R. 5747).
At our request, the United Methodist Church’s General Board
of Church and Society delivered a very persuasive letter to members
of Congress urging them to oppose this bill. The momentum created
at our event and the innovative lobbying efforts employed in the days
following it helped to stop this fast-moving bill dead in its tracks.
It’s clear that what we are doing is working.
While it may be hard to believe, IDPI does all of its work
with an annual budget of less than $90,000. By coordinating
effectively with our colleagues at religious groups, drug
policy reform organizations, and sympathetic people of faith
like you, we are able to do a lot with a little.
Now it’s time to bring this campaign to the next level.
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“We
who have participated in the civil rights movement…are
committed to translating the lessons we have learned into
invitations for
action now, |
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believing it is urgent to redress the grievances and correct
the injustices of our present drug laws. We urge you to
join in this movement….” |
-
Rev. James Lawson, Jr
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If religious groups take the lead on this issue, we are confident
we will win. That’s why we need more denominations to take positions,
more denominations to commit lobbying resources to the effort, and
more people of faith like you to organize in your communities.
The last time people of faith got very active on a specific drug policy
issue it resulted in the presidential pardon of 23 drug war prisoners.
In 2000, a coalition of faith leaders called the Coalition for Jubilee
Clemency mounted an impressive campaign to gain clemency for specific
low-level drug offenders serving unconscionable sentences. This effort
was organized by Eric Sterling, who currently serves on IDPI’s
Leadership Council.
Since
the enactment of mandatory sentencing, the Federal Bureau
of Prisons budget increased
by more than 1,350%.
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IDPI’s
goal is to bring that same power to repealing mandatory sentencing
and bringing Hamedah Hasan home to her children. With this
new broad coalition of religious groups we intend to draw
the attention of the media and Congress that this issue deserves.
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Repealing mandatory minimum sentencing will mark a major shift in
U.S. drug policy. It will pave the way for even more just and compassionate
policies that seek to heal, not punish.
The
truth is, our ability to meet the needs of this campaign depend
on the financial support of people like you. We need to raise
an additional $100,000 in order to devote the necessary staff
time to reach the next level of influence.
Every day that concerned people of faith wait to act is another
day that thousands of non-violent people rot in jail cells with
rapists and murderers. |
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Are you a concerned person of faith who wants these injustices to
end?
If so, please go to our secure server to make
your best contribution.
$500,
$35, $150 – It all helps us gets one step closer to our
goal. IDPI urgently needs your help to fund our Humane Sentencing
2005 campaign.
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60%
of federal prisoners are
drug offenders. Only 11% of those
fit the definition of high-level
drug traffickers.
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While the statistics
are compelling, we can never forget that there is a face behind every
fact. There are real people like Hamedah Hasan, who have families
and faith communities waiting to heal them, if only Congress would
give them the chance.
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Contributing
to this historic campaign is your chance to help them. We pray
that you will.
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SEE
LEFT SIDE BAR TO EXPLORE THIS SECTION
Interfaith
Drug Policy
Initiative, P.O. Box 6299, Washington,
D.C. 20015
Phone: 301-933-7681 Fax:301-933-7682 |
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