Criminal Justice Reform

Team Leader

Margaret Carrow

Team Mission

We work to end:

mass incarceration, especially of people of color, due to unjust drug laws;
mandatory minimum sentences;
unfair administration of justice including over-policing, cash bail, and prosecutorial overreach;
educational apartheid;
substandard education;
poor access to employment

2026 Meeting Dates

Our Team meets monthly via Zoom, every month except as noted below, on the last Monday of the month, at 8 PM.

(no meeting in January, July or December)
February 23
March 30
April 27
May 26 (Last Tuesday due to Memorial Day)
June 29
August 31
September 28
October 26
November 30

To attend our meetings on Zoom:
From your PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android,
click this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83588893604

How We Work for “Good Government”

Our issues span both the state and local levels, and include these issues:

Ending Death by Incarceration: In PA, anyone found guilty of first- or second-degree murder is automatically sentenced to life without parole. The judge has no discretion to do otherwise. Thus, a person who was merely a lookout or getaway driver when a murder occurs is charged with second-degree murder. There are now more than 5,000 persons sentenced to die in PA prisons, many of them elderly. “Death by Incarceration” is expensive to taxpayers, as well as inhumane to the individuals affected.

Probation and Parole Reform: Major reform is badly needed in this area. A failure to report a change in residence or employment can get a person sent back to jail. A majority of legislators in the last session supported reform, but the bill was
bottled up and then extensively amended in committee. This was a huge disappointment, and we joined our partners in opposing its passage.

Solitary Confinement: Our team joined the PA Council of Churches in support of a bill that would limit and reform its use in terms of frequency and duration. Numerous studies have documented the harmful psychological effects of long-
term solitary confinement.

Reform of Act 111: The legislation that provides binding arbitration for police and firefighters in lieu of the right to strike was passed in 1968. The binding arbitration determines pay raises and policy, and resolves disciplinary issues. In Philadelphia, more than 70% of the discipline cases that go to binding arbitration result in a reduced punishment and/or restoration of prior status. Two reform bills were introduced last session, one by a Democrat and one by a Republican. Stay tuned for a hoped-for collaboration.

Occupational Licensure Reform: We are happy to report success in this area in Pennsylvania’s last legislative session. Each licensing agency is required to revisit and revise its regulations, and make individualized decisions. Now, for example, returning citizens will be able to apply for a barber’s license.

Upcoming Events

CLICK HERE
to link to our Calendar!

Resources

Abolitionist Law Center Report

Comprehensive Resource Guides
(Compiled by Travis Farrell)

Anti-Mass Incarceration Resource Guide
White Privilege Resource Guide

Other Resources

Life Without Parole in PA
The Marshall Project
Mass-Incarceration Report
Starter Kit for Teaching

Additional legislative goals:

End the death penalty
Oppose mandatory minimum sentences
Bail Reform
Divest from for-profit prison industries
End prison gerrymandering (the bill introduced last session would use the inmate’s former residence, rather than prison address, for census and for establishing legislative districts)

Our team has joined other organizations in public rallies, calling for fair commutation and ending death by incarceration. Various UU congregations are involved in related local issues; for example, the UU Fellowship of Centre County has revitalized the Centre County Chapter of the PA Prison Society. This has resulted in improved conditions in the county jail and in two state prisons.

Action Alerts

Check back soon for the latest updates!

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