Support Compassionate Release Reform for Prisoners

There is a new bipartisan bill in the Senate that addresses the broken compassionate release process in our criminal justice system. The Granting Release and Compassion Effectively (GRACE) Act would bring transparency and accountability to the process, giving prisoners who are ill, dying, elderly, or facing other “extraordinary and compelling circumstances” the ability to appeal inaction from the Bureau of Prisons or denials of compassionate release requests. The GRACE Act would also allow families greater access to their incarcerated loved ones throughout the process.

Over the years, the Bureau of Prisons has regularly denied compassionate release to hundreds of prisoners. More than 80 prisoners have died in the last four years waiting for their requests to be reviewed. Currently, people who are incarcerated cannot access a court to appeal a denial of their compassionate release request.

As Christians, we acknowledge the grace that God shows to each of us, remembering that Scripture in turn calls us to “show mercy and compassion to one another”—to people who are made in the image of God. We believe that the goal of the criminal justice system should be restoration of victims and offenders. The denial of compassionate release to deserving prisoners works against this goal of restoration.

Ask your senators to support compassionate release and to cosponsor the GRACE Act!

 

Click here for a backgrounder on compassionate release or return to the Office of Social Justice website.

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