We are sharing this Action Alert on behalf of our allies at the Georgetown Juvenile Justice Initiative. Please take a moment to sign their petition to the DC Council.
With passage of the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) in 2016 and subsequent amendments, DC law provided an opportunity for the re-sentencing of youth who were tried as adults and given long sentences from crimes committed when they were under 18, and had served at least 15 years in prison. In determining whether to reduce the sentence, the court is to consider many factors, including whether the individual has demonstrated maturity and demonstrated sufficient rehabilitation to safely return to the community. Recently, Councilmember Charles Allen introduced the Second Look Amendment Act of 2019 to amend the IRAA to further align with the latest research regarding the emerging adult population. Specifically, if passed, the Second Look Amendment Act will expand the opportunity to request re-sentencing to young adults who committed their offense between the ages of 18-25 and would hold all IRAA candidates awaiting re-sentencing in DC’s Correctional Treatment Facility. While this legislation doesn’t guarantee release, it provides for a meaningful sentence review. Please sign the petition below and lend your support to giving young people a second chance.
If you have any questions about this legislation or petition, please do not hesitate to reach out to Eduardo Ferrer (ferrere@georgetown.edu) or Paul Ashton (pashton@justicepolicy.org).
