Winnable and under-discussed justice reform ideas for 2015

Eight ideas for criminal justice reforms that are ripe for legislative victory.

by Peter Wagner, December 22, 2014

This report has been updated with a new version for 2022.

With the 2015 legislative sessions about to start, it’s time to unveil our second annual list of under-discussed but winnable criminal justice reforms.

The list is published as a briefing with links to more information and model bills, and it was recently sent to reform minded state legislators across the country. The reform topics we think are ripe for legislative victory are:

• Ending prison gerrymandering
• Lowering the cost of a call home from prison or jail
• Repealing or reforming ineffective and harmful sentencing enhancement zones
• Protecting letters from home in local jails
• Requiring racial impact statements for criminal justice bills
• Repealing “Truth in Sentencing”
• Creating a safety valve for mandatory minimum sentences
• Reducing pretrial detention

Let us know what you think of this year’s list. We look forward to working together to make 2015 a year of great progress for justice reform!