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Empower Mississippi announced the launch of the Second Chances Mississippi campaign today to help raise awareness for policy reforms in our justice system.
Second Chances Mississippi will provide a public platform to allow people who have made a mistake, but found redemption after time in prison, to tell their stories,” said Empower Director of Justice Steven Randle. “We know that over 90 percent of the people who end up in prison will one day again walk the streets of our communities. Smart reforms can increase the likelihood of their success, making us safer, reducing the burden on taxpayers, and allowing us to focus limited public resources on the most significant threats.”
The Second Chances Mississippi campaign will include testimonials, paid advertisement, and direct mail in support of thoughtful reform ideas and the leaders who champion them.
“Empower Mississippi is committed to protecting the public and providing second chances to those who have earned it, and we will provide measurable support to lawmakers who see the need to be both smart on crime and soft on taxpayers,” said Empower President Russ Latino.
Priorities for action include reform to Mississippi’s habitual laws, parole reform, and re-entry reforms like record non-disclosure that are all being considered by the legislature.
Habitual Laws (Sentencing): Under the Clinton administration in the mid-1990s, the federal government added habitual sentencing, or so-called “three strikes” laws in an effort to crack down on crime. Many states, including Mississippi, followed suit. In the intervening years, our prison population exploded, along with the costs associated with that system to taxpayers, families, and broader communities. The laws impose harsh enhanced penalties for individuals who have had multiple scrapes with the law, including life without the possibility of parole in certain circumstances. Mississippi’s habitual laws are responsible for nearly 100 inmates in Mississippi prisons serving life without the possibility of parole for non-violent third offenses, most often drug abuse. Empower believes that life without the possibility of parole should be reserved for heinous offenses and individuals who pose a real threat to society, not drug addiction, and is supportive of efforts by lawmakers like Sen. Daniel Sparks and Rep. Nick Bain to adjust the laws equitably.
Parole (Rehabilitation Incentives): Sentencing under habitual laws is only one part of the equation. Over 90 percent of all people sitting in prison will be released at some point. How long they serve and with what incentives play a huge role in how they behave both in prison and once released. The availability of parole and early release for certain classes of offenders serves an important prison safety function, encouraging good behavior that reduces prison violence and further encouraging offenders to make self-improvements in preparation for re-entry. Parole eligibility is not the same thing as automatic release. Parole must be earned. On a macro-level, parole as a tool to address prison overcrowding and the heavy associated cost, allows the state to ensure the most viable threats remain behind bars, while safely reducing the prison population. Empower is supportive of ongoing efforts to bring smart, evidenced-based parole reform by the likes of Sen. Juan Barnett and Rep. Kevin Horan.
Non-Disclosure (Re-Entry): Once someone is out of prison, the number one determinant on whether they will re-offend is the ability to find stable employment. This is why basic things like access to state issued identification is so vital in the initial period after release. It can be difficult to find gainful employment and re-integrate into one’s community with criminal history hanging over your head. Non-disclosure or expungement laws allow an ex-offender to apply for record expungement after a period of good behavior post-release. As with parole, it is not automatically granted. But non-disclosure of prior criminal history can serve as both an incentive for good behavior post-release, a tool to allow for complete re-entry, and an important psychological marker for the individual. Empower is supportive of reform efforts being advanced by the likes of Rep. Jansen Owen.
MageeNews.com is an online news source covering Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the state of Mississippi.
