Welcome!

With a prison system that often amounts to institutionalized torture, and sentencing policy that not only harms communities but also fails to achieve its most basic goals, there is a need for real reform in United States policy in these areas. The Prison and Sentencing Reform Project will bring together individuals who are interested in affecting real change in the way our criminal justice system does business, taking advantage of one of the most progressive environments in the country to make an impact.

At the first meetings of the group, there will be a chance for Members to get to know one another, to share their motivations for joining, and to share academic literature and articles on these topics. We will also discuss areas for active involvement. Some initial ideas might include partnering with the University of Oregon's Innocence Project to assist them from Portland, attempting to schedule a tour of a state prison, and connecting with The Sentencing Project in D.C. and the Prison Activist Resource Center in Oakland to see about applying their principles in Oregon.

The Members who attend the initial meetings will determine the direction the group takes, whether we will focus on researching this issue and sharing our findings with one another, or whether we hope to form a larger Member base to lobby the Oregon Legislature and write ballot initiatives. Will we be an informal discussion group, or do we hope to form a non-profit organization with a broader mission? What do you think? Come and share your ideas with us!