The Sentencing Project

05/12/2026

Today in Maryland, Governor Moore signed landmark legislation that will automatically register people to vote upon their release from incarceration.

This victory removes the "red tape" and confusion that too often prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from reclaiming their voice in our democracy.

Whether in Maryland or across the country, expanding ballot access to people impacted by the justice system strengthens our democracy, supports successful reentry, and challenges the exclusion of directly impacted communities.

We are celebrating this milestone today, but our work continues in every state until the right to vote is fully protected for ALL!

05/12/2026

"Michigan does not have to choose between accountability and fairness. It can, and should, build a system that delivers both.

Michigan can and should start by adopting a Survivors Justice Act to create a clear legal pathway for survivor-centered sentence review, ensuring courts can consider evidence of abuse at sentencing and for people who are already in prison."

When those women are incarcerated, families fracture, children lose stability and communities absorb the long-term consequences.There is a better approach: allowing courts to review sentences in cases where abuse, coercion or trafficking were never fully considered.

05/11/2026

Today, a growing number of people are returning home after long-term confinement because of our nation’s harsh sentencing laws. What’s it like to navigate life after decades in prison?

Join us May 13 at 3PM ET for a discussion on reentry after long-term imprisonment: sentproj.org/reentrywebinar

05/09/2026

"For mothers in the free world, the holiday carries carnations from grocery store impulse racks; phone calls with grandchildren singing off-key; and brunch tables crowded with the beautiful noise of family. For mothers behind prison walls, it carries a different kind of weight. The specific, unshakable weight of what cannot be touched," writes Kwaneta Harris in The Marshall Project.

Kwaneta Harris has missed every single Mother’s Day with her 19-year-old. That means walking on eggshells, icy politeness and the occasional mom joke.

05/08/2026

How a Mother’s Journey to Raise Her Newborn Behind Bars Gave Her Hope

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

Restorative justice diversion programs deliver better outcomes for both victims and youth than the traditional juvenile court system—reducing reoffending, increasing victim satisfaction, and promoting meaningful accountability. Yet despite strong evidence, access to these programs remains limited nationwide.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bK3sIT

05/02/2026

Our latest report highlights the experiences and challenges of 33 formerly incarcerated people released after decades of imprisonment in California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C, as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

Reentry report highlights the experiences and challenges of 33 formerly incarcerated people released after decades of imprisonment.

04/30/2026

📰 NEW NEWSLETTER: Our Executive Director Kara Gotsch just launched a monthly newsletter, "Mass Incarceration and Other Bad Ideas," that examines policies driving mass incarceration and racial injustice, unpacks the real-world harm they cause, and highlights better solutions to community safety that prioritize fairness and human dignity.

In honor of , her first post highlights the challenges of reentry and the importance of building systems that support people as they transition from incarceration back into their communities.

Read and subscribe: bit.ly/3QC6eJz

04/29/2026

"As we observe Second Chance Month, Marylanders, including lawmakers, should reflect on how policy choices either help communities thrive or hold them back. Youth justice reforms, meaningful sentencing review and expanded voting rights are not just a matter of justice reform — they are essential to a stronger democracy," writes The Sentencing Project's Nicole D. Porter and Olivia Naugle.

Opinion: This year, Maryland lawmakers took meaningful steps to expand second chances in both the youth and adult justice systems and strengthen civic participation, writes Nicole D. Porter and Olivia Naugle.