Decarceration Advocacy

SLP will works to inform and educate the community and local stakeholders about reforms that can provide relief from extreme sentences, and more pathways for second chances mechanisms. Our current Advocacy priorities

  • Children Sentenced as Adults: SLP is advocates against the excessive transfer of youth to adult courts and seeking to reduce current extreme sentences practices amongst DC' youth

  • Collation and community advocacy SLP participates and are members of advocacy collations and working groups locally and nationally that advocate against extreme sentencing practices

  • DC control of its criminal legal system, - Because DC is not a state DC code offender are housed across the country in the Bureau of Prisons, which disproportionately disadvantage’s individuals from DC. Thus, SLP advocates for DC statehood and its control of its parole board, prison system, and probation system

  • Condition Advocacy - SLP advocates for the fair and humane treatment of individuals incarcerated in the Bureau of Prisons

  • Ending Mass incarceration - SLP advocates for the ending of extreme sentencing practices and more mechanism to second chances for individuals serving extreme sentences

Parole Program

SLP provides non legal support to individuals serving time on a DC Code violation seeking parole or early release by providing advocacy services. The Parole  Program aims to reduce the number of DC offenders incarcerated in the Bureau of Prisons by connecting participants with appropriate resources, including pro bono legal counsel in preparation for their hearing before the US Parole Commission. The parole Program will also provide support to pro bono counsel representing individuals in parole hearings.