ANNUAL REPORT 2016 The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration.

The image on pages 22 and 23 is a photograph by Richard X. Thripp. His other work can be found at thripp.com.

Copyright © 2017 by The Sentencing Project. Reproduction of this document in full or in part, and in print or electronic format, only by permission of The Sentencing Project.

1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th floor Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel: 202.628.0871 Fax: 202.628.1091 www.sentencingproject.org TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the Executive Director 2

Research That Makes a Difference 4

Advocacy for State and Federal Policy Change 10

Building Public Support for Reform 14

Board and Staff 22

Donors 24

Financial Statements 30

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 1 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

It has been a momentous year for The Sentencing Project, and for the nation. In September we celebrated our 30th Anniversary with a lovely reception in Washington, D.C. featuring remarks by Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Sentencing Project was founded in 1986 when Malcolm Young incorporated the work he had been doing in establishing sentencing advocacy programs for indigent defendants into a fledging organization designed to expand such initiatives. The concept proved successful, with new programs starting Marc Mauer around the country in the following years, along with a series Executive Director of national training conferences we hosted for upwards of 200 participants each year.

By the late 1980s we became increasingly engaged in research and advocacy. A briefing paper we produced in 1989 documented that the United States had just reached the dubious mark of incarcerating a million people in its prisons and jails. That seemed like a lot at the time. Two years later we issued a report showing that the U.S. had become the world leader in its use of incarceration, a position that still pertains today among industrialized nations. A series of reports over time also documented the disastrous rates of social control in communities of color, and among African Americans in particular.

Our goal in documenting these disturbing dynamics was not to cast blame, but to call for better public policy. We seek policies that can produce better outcomes for public safety while avoiding the harsh direct and indirect effects of what has become a system of mass incarceration.

2 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Working with many allies around the country I think we’ve been successful in promoting these objectives. For a start, the political environment on issues of crime and justice has shifted considerably over the past decade. There are many reasons for this – a declining crime rate creating openings for more rational discussion, liberal and conservative leaders calling for reform, and ongoing scholarship documenting both problems and solutions to elements of mass incarceration. This has been encouraged and supported by a growing advocacy community including long-time justice reformers, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the voices of many who have been directly impacted by the system.

Changes in policy and practice have followed as well. A considerable number of states have adopted legislative and policy changes in the areas of sentencing reform, drug policy, felony disenfranchisement, and collateral consequences, while many practitioner organizations have reevaluated their approach toward pursuing problem-solving initiatives.

While I am encouraged by this tide of reform, we know that the overall impact on the number of people behind bars is still quite modest. And I would be remiss not to note the potential impact of the new administration in Washington. To the extent that the national narrative around crime and justice may shift in a “tough” direction that may threaten the progress of recent years.

This is cause for great concern, but I think we need to keep in mind that criminal justice reform has never been easy. We’ve endured decades of “wars” on crime, drugs, and communities of color, and we have had to challenge entrenched political interests, media sensationalism, racial divisions in society, and many other hurdles. These obstacles, and potentially new ones, will need to be overcome even as we collectively advance reform. So let’s take a moment to celebrate our accomplishments, while also girding up for the next 30 years of engagement. We’ll hope to have your support as we do so.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 3 RESEARCH that makes a difference

In its 30th year, The Sentencing Project continued to investigate the major trends, dynamics and impacts of the U.S. criminal justice system and identified avenues for reform.

In the face of growing momentum Racial Disparities for reform, The Sentencing Project has played a major role in producing A report by The Sentencing Project, Racial Disparities research and analysis designed to shape in Youth Commitment and Arrest, by Josh Rovner, policy debates. Our research focused Juvenile Justice Advocacy Associate, found that on analyzing the recent declines in the while youth incarceration has declined sharply number of incarcerated Americans, over the last decade, racial disparities have documenting the number of people actually increased. The report reviews the state- with felony convictions who are denied by-state status of racial and ethnic disparities in the right to vote, and identifying trends commitments and the likely impact of growing in juvenile detention and the racial racial disparities in arrests. The article discussed disparities that pervade the criminal the collateral impacts of justice involvement on justice system. communities of color and how current social movements are challenging mass incarceration.

4 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT The Sentencing Project published The Color of Justice: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in State Prison, documenting rates of incarceration for whites, African Americans, and Hispanics by state. The report, by Ashley Nellis, PhD., Senior Research Analyst, also identified contributors to disparities, and provided recommendations for reform. Its key finding—that African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons across the country at more than five times the rate of whites, and at least ten times the rate in five states—received wide media attention, including coverage in the Guardian, Politico, NY Daily News, NBC News and Business Insider.

Dr. Ashley Nellis, a research analyst and author of the report for the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit The Oregon Far Outpaces Nation in Black Sentencing Project, said the racial Imprisonment disparities in incarceration create profound effects. “When people are July 3, 2016 in prison, their absence from the community affects their spouse and A recently published report indicates that children, but also their employer. If Oregon ranks seventh in its rate of black one racial group is over-incarcerated, incarceration, far outpacing the national that can fundamentally change a average despite state laws meant to curtail community.” racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 5 Racial Bias, Safety and the What Drives Declines in Prison Quality of Community Life Populations The narrative of “Black Lives Matter” offers a The number of people in prison in the U.S. has new framework for policymakers, activists, stabilized in recent years, but incarceration trends practitioners, and other stakeholders to think among the states have varied significantly.U.S. about a public safety strategy that is not Prison Population Trends: Broad Variation Among primarily defined by arrests and admissions to States in Recent Years, by Nazgol Ghandnoosh, prison. Expanding Public Safety in the Era of Black PhD., Research Analyst, found that twelve states Lives Matter, an article authored by Director of have produced double-digit declines in recent Advocacy Nicole Porter for the University of Miami years, most notably New Jersey (31%), New York Law Review, provides an overview of evidence- (28%) and Rhode Island (25%), with no adverse based approaches for public safety interventions effects on public safety. that exist outside of law enforcement interactions. These reductions have come about through changes in policy and practice, including drug Ms. Porter also wrote Unfinished Project of Civil policy sentencing reforms, reduced admissions Rights in the Era of Mass Incarceration and the of parole violators to prison, and diversion Movement for Black Lives Matter, which was options for lower-level property and drug crimes. published by the Wake Forest Journal of Law However, the number of people in prison rose & Policy. The article discussed the collateral in 11 states. The publication’s findings were impacts of justice involvement on communities featured in Newsweek, Philadelphia Inquirer, and of color and how current social movements are other media outlets. challenging mass incarceration.

Twelve states have produced double- digit declines in their prison population for some period since 1999 with no adverse effect on public safety

6 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Repurposing Prisons Since 2011, at least 22 states have closed or announced closures for 94 state prisons and juvenile facilities, resulting in the elimination Will states follow DOJ's private prison of 48,000 state prison beds and an estimated cost savings of $345 million. The opportunity to move? Some are ahead of the feds. downsize prison bed space has been brought August 26, 2016 about by declines in state prison populations as well as the increasing challenge of managing Some states are ahead of the federal older facilities. Repurposing: New Beginnings for government in closing for-profit correctional Closed Prisons, by Nicole Porter, documented how locations. Nicole D. Porter, advocacy director reducing the use of incarceration has created the of the Sentencing Project, which ...opposes opportunity to restructure closed prisons for use private prisons, provided these examples of by local communities for urban redevelopment, states moving away from private facilities: cultural and recreational programs, and small • Colorado announced plans...to close the businesses. private Kit Carson Correctional Center

• Mississippi will close the Walnut Grove Reform at the State Level Correctional Facility • D.C. announced that the District would The State of Sentencing 2015: Developments in resume operation of the Correctional Policy and Practice, by Nicole Porter, enumerated Treatment Facility reforms in 30 states in 2015 that demonstrated a continued trend to reform sentencing policies • Kentucky announced the closing of its last and scale back the use of imprisonment without of three [private] facilities in 2013 compromising public safety. The report was • Texas closed two private prisons in 2013 disseminated to key legislative leaders in every state, as well as advocates and practitioners, and • Idaho said it would no longer send prisoners received significant coverage in criminal justice to a private facility in Colorado media.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 7 Keeping Youth from Adult Courts The Sentencing Project published How Tough on Iowa Court Rejects Life Without Crime Became Tough on Kids: Prosecuting Teenage Parole for Juveniles Drug Charges in Adult Courts, by Josh Rovner. The report examines the many pathways that states August 23, 2015 have devised that allow youth to be charged and The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in a split tried as adults for drug charges and the negative decision Friday that sentencing juveniles to effects of such policies. Our recommendations life in prison without parole is unconstitutional included raising the age of juvenile court because it amounts to cruel and unusual jurisdiction to age 18; establishing alternatives punishment. to incarceration that hold young offenders accountable without the severe consequences “The courts and state legislatures alike have of adult charges on their records; and eliminating agreed that life without any chance of parole automatic waivers into adult courts. is an inappropriate sentence for a child,” said Joshua Rovner, who focuses on juvenile crime for the Sentencing Project. Eliminating Juvenile Life “There is a widespread understanding now, with scientific research backing up our own Without Parole for Youth common sense, that juveniles are not adults, and shouldn’t be treated that way,” he said. Most of the approximately 2,500 individuals “Adolescence is not a permanent condition, sentenced as juveniles to life without the and the courts are recognizing this.” possibility of parole now have a chance for release in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions. The policy of permitting teenagers to receive the harshest available sentence is not The Sentencing Project analyzed these shared among all states. Eighteen states and the developments in Juvenile Life Without Parole: An District of Columbia have banned life sentences Overview, by Josh Rovner. This briefing paper without the possibility of parole for juveniles. In a noted that the U.S. stands alone as the only handful of other states, no one is serving such a nation that sentences people to life without sentence. parole for crimes committed before turning 18.

8 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT The Right to Vote The Sentencing Project published 6 Million Lost Voters: State-Level Estimates of Felony Disenfranchisement, 2016, a report by Christopher 6.1M: Uggen and Ryan Larson of the University of Minnesota and Sarah Shannon of the University The number of people of Georgia. The report documented the country’s disenfranchised in the 2016 status as the world’s strictest nation in regard to election due to a felony denying the right to vote to citizens convicted of crimes. conviction

The report estimated that 6.1 million Americans— one in every 40 adults—were prohibited from voting during the 2016 election because of a felony conviction. In six states, more than 7% of Among African Americans, one in 13 is the adult population is disenfranchised. disenfranchised, a rate more than four times that of non-African Americans. The report, released just before the November election, received broad media attention, including coverage by The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, BBC, and C-Span.

In partnership with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The Sentencing Project co- authored Free the Vote: Unlocking Democracy in the Cells and on the Streets. The report documented the harmful and discriminatory impact of felony disenfranchisement laws, and discussed how eliminating disenfranchisement policies would strengthen our collective democracy.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 9 ADVOCACY for state & federal policy change

Throughout the year The Sentencing Project worked closely with policymakers and activists on reform strategies, coalition formation, planning, media outreach, communications and advocacy campaigns.

STATE REFORM Online Education The Sentencing Project hosted a series of webinars for organizers, policy advocates, state legislative staff, and practitioners on criminal justice advocacy efforts, with 100-200 participants for each program. Topics included assessing the impact of the California Realignment legislation, state sentencing reform campaigns, and successful efforts to scale back collateral consequences and challenge racial disparity in state sentencing policy. Marc Mauer discusses The Sentencing Project’s publication, “6 Million Lost Voters: State-Level Estimates of Felony Disenfranchisement, 2016,” on C-SPAN.

10 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Providing Support to • Organizing national opposition to a regressive three strikes measure in New Mexico, Advocates at the State Level including publishing an op-ed in the major state newspaper; During 2016, The Sentencing Project worked closely with partners in 18 states and the • Playing a key role in the success of a District of Columbia on sentencing reform, Maryland coalition in overriding the governor’s racial disparities, and efforts to scale back veto of felony enfranchisement legislation by collateral consequences. We provided a broad testifying before the legislature and helping array of technical and strategic assistance that establish a task force to address racial included convening state coalition partners for disparity in the state’s criminal and juvenile discussions on strategy, providing feedback justice systems. on policy goals, sharing stories of success (or failure) from other states, and providing research and data analysis for advocacy campaigns. We also published regular assessments of policy proposals and reforms at the state level. Specific activities included: Maryland Votes to Expand Felons' • Helping craft and provide support to Voting Rights campaigns in 10 states to scale back felony February 9, 2016 drug bans on food stamps, restore voting rights and advance racial impact statement The state legislature on Tuesday voted to policy; overturn Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of a bill [that] restores voting rights immediately upon a • Providing strategic assistance to an advocacy prisoner’s release. coalition that worked to successfully terminate the District of Columbia’s contract “These are people living in the community,” with the for-profit Corrections Corporation of said Nicole D. Porter, advocacy director at America; the Sentencing Project, a nonprofit group that works toward criminal justice reform. • Helping Kentucky advocates build support “They participate in other areas of the social for legislation on expungement and felony contract. They are expected not to recidivate. disenfranchisement reform; They pay taxes. They want to participate in democracy and should have a role in deciding who represents them.”

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 11 FEDERAL REFORM Building bipartisan support for reform Coalition pushes for more Obama In 2016 The Sentencing Project played a commutations significant role in building support among members of Congress for the Sentencing November 29, 2016 Reform and Corrections Act (SRCA). We were A coalition of criminal justice reform advocates one of a core group of organizations leading is asking President Obama to grant more the effort to forge broad, bipartisan consensus commutations before leaving office. The for passage and helped members of Congress letter was signed by more than 50 advocates understand the policy reform options at their including Van Jones and John Legend, and disposal. We also collaborated with a White groups such as The Sentencing Project and House working group as it educated the public the NAACP Legal Defense and Education in support of the reforms. Though SRCA did Fund. not pass in 2016, the broad coalition that supported it is well-positioned to move forward Specifically, the group wants Obama to with reform legislation in 2017. consider commuting the sentences of prisoners who did not benefit from the Our advocacy at the federal level also included retroactivity granted under the Fair Sentencing publishing op-ed commentaries advocating for Act in 2010. a broad approach to executive clemency for individuals serving time under harsh federal “With a stroke of your pen, you could change mandatory drug laws; providing support the lives of thousands of individuals and their for a sign-on letter campaign on the issue families and write a legacy that will stand that received extensive media coverage; throughout history,” the letter said. “We do not and pushing for the reauthorization of the know whether the next president will support Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention clemency efforts or criminal justice reform, Act that helped spur passage in the House of but we do know that until Jan. 20, you alone Representatives. have the power to deliver both mercy and justice to those who deserve it.”

12 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Nazgol Ghandnoosh, a research analyst at The Sentencing Project, said it’s worth questioning whether rehabilitation-based approaches would be embraced if heroin Federal Drug Policy Softens as were perceived as an epidemic among Whites Become Face of Heroin African Americans and Latinos. Addiction “The more people associate drug crime with January 8, 2016 people of color, the more likely they are to Heroin addiction disproportionately impacts support punitive policy solutions. But in this white families, and U.S. drug policy is changing case we are seeing a move in the treatment as a result—reversing long-standing trends in direction, which is a really positive outcome,” which drug addiction was largely perceived Ghandnoosh said. “So the question is, how as a problem for racial minorities and seen much is this about race? And how do we as grounds for stricter law enforcement and replicate this next time, if those impacted by prison sentencing. the perceived epidemic aren’t white?”

Nicole D. Porter speaking at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference on “Ending Mass Incarceration, Police Brutality, and Rebuilding Community Trust.” 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 13 BUILDING public support for reform

The Sentencing Project’s research and analysis captured broad media attention, with citations from nearly 800 media outlets throughout the U.S. and internationally during 2016.

Media presence Atlanta Journal Constitution Chicago Tribune Austin American-Statesman Christian Science Monitor The list of newspapers, radio Australian Broadcasting Corporation Cincinnati.com stations, and prominent websites BBC News CNN includes: Between the Lines Connecticut Law Tribune ABA Journal Big Country Constitution Daily ABC News Birmingham Times CorrectionsOne.com Above the Law Black Agenda Report Cosmopolitan Afro Black Star News Daily Beast Al Jazeera Black Voice News Daily Kos Albany Times Union Bloomberg Daily Mail (UK) Albuquerque Journal Boston Globe Daily Utah Chronicle Aljazeera Boston Herald Democracy Now! America Magazine Business Insider Denver Post Arkansas Times CatholicPhilly.com Des Moines Register Associated Press CBC News Eastern Arizona Courier Atlanta Black Star Charlotte Observer Ebony 14 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Education Week National Catholic Reporter Richmond Times-Dispatch El Economista National Review RollingStone Elle NBC News Rutland Herald (VT) Falls Church News-Press New Hampshire Public Radio Salon Fiscal Times New Jersey 101.5 Santa Fe New Mexican Florida Courier New Orleans Times-Picayune Slate Florida Times-Union New Republic St. Louis American Forbes New York Daily News St. Louis Post-Dispatch Fortune New York Law Journal Talk Poverty Fox News Newsweek Tampa Bay Times Governing New Mexico Politics.net Texas Observer Herald Scotland (UK) Nonprofit Quarterly The American Prospect Houston Forward Times North County Public Radio The Atlantic Huffington Post North Jersey Record The Chicago Crusader Illinois Times Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal The Diane Rehm Show Insider Louisville (KY) Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette The Economist International Business Times Norwalk Reflector The Guardian Jackson Free Press (MS) NPR The Hill Jacobin Omaha World-Herald The Nation Jet Orlando Sentinel The New Yorker Las Vegas Sun Pacific Standard The New York Times Latina PBS Newshour The Oklahoman Los Angeles Times Pensacola News Journal The Oregonian Madison.com (WI) Philadelphia Inquirer The Tennessean Maine Public Radio Philadelphia Tribune The Wall Street Journal Miami Herald Pittsburgh Courier Time Mic Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Toledo Blade Milwaukee Community Journal Politico U.S. News & World Report Missourian PolitiFact Univision Modern Healthcare Portland Press Herald (ME) USA Today Mother Jones Prison Legal News Vice Moyers and Company Psychology Today Vox MSNBC Quartz Washington Post My San Antonio Reason.com Washington Times Nashville Scene Reno Gazette-Journal Women’s Health 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 15 Public presentations Civil Rights Organizations Black Men United Forum In 2016 the staff of The Sentencing Project made more than 60 presentations on a range Congressional Black Caucus of criminal justice reform issues at professional Congressional Hispanic Caucus conferences, academic institutions, and National Black Law Students Association policymaker gatherings on all facets of criminal National Urban League justice reform. Venues and audiences included: New Jersey Black Issues Forum

Academic Institutions Research Organizations and Professional Groups American Society of Criminology CATO Institute American University- Washington College of Law Confluence Philanthropy Arthur Liman Public Interest Program - Yale Law School National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Ball State University Catholic University Reform Advocates Columbia University AFL-CIO College of William and Mary Coalition for Public Safety George Washington University School of Public Health Coro Fellows Program George Mason University Detention Watch Network Georgetown University National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty Georgetown University Law Center National Lawyers Guild Goucher College Nebraska Conference on Mass Incarceration New School Reform Princeton University Prince George’s County (MD) Peace & Justice University of Illinois School of Law Coalition University of Maryland Southern Center for Human Rights University of Michigan Law School Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform University of Minnesota Washington Appleseed University of South Florida University of Tampa University of Utah Washington Center for Internships and Seminars 16 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Criminal Justice Practitioners Government Agencies Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program District of Columbia City Council District of Columbia Court Services and Offender U.S. Department of Justice, Reentry Council Supervision Agency U.S. Government Accountability Office Maryland Judicial Institute Miscellaneous Religious Organizations American Film Institute Ignation Family Teach-in for Justice American Justice Summit New Bethel Baptist Church (MD) Blouin Creative Leadership Summit Northern Virginia Ethical Society Eastern State Penitentiary (PA) Payne Theological Seminary (OH) U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

Marking 30 Years of Research, Advocacy and Public Education In September, The Sentencing Project marked its 30th Anniversary with a program and reception in Washington D.C., with over 150 guests in attendance. Vanita Gupta, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice was the keynote speaker. The program opened with the premiere of a short film highlighting the work of The Sentencing Project, and featuring commentary on our role in the field by Senator Dick Durbin and a range of advocates and scholars. The video was made available on our website and was broadly disseminated through social media. Vanita Gupta speaking at The Sentencing Project’s 30th Anniversary.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 17 Roy Austin Jr., the Honorable Patti Saris and Marc Mauer discuss federal criminal justice reform at Georgetown University Law Center.

The future of reform Museum-based Education The Sentencing Project co-sponsored a panel Nazgol Ghandnoosh provided extensive research with the American College of Trial Lawyers at support for the inauguration of a comprehensive the Georgetown University Law Center on mass new exhibit, Prisons Today: Questions in the incarceration, sentencing reform, and the next Age of Mass Incarceration, at the Eastern State presidential administration. The event featured Penitentiary Museum in Philadelphia. The exhibit presentations by the Hon. Patti Saris, chair of the has been viewed by thousands of visitors from U.S. Sentencing Commission, and Roy Austin across the country and internationally. Jr., Deputy Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs, Justice and Opportunity for the White House Domestic Policy Council.

18 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Mass Incarceration Website, Social Media and The Sentencing Project collaborated with E-News filmmaker Ava DuVernay on13th , an Oscar- nominated documentary that traces the history The Sentencing Project launched its thoroughly and impact of mass incarceration. Along with redesigned website, which features enhanced many colleagues in the field, Executive Director graphics, integrated database content, expanded Marc Mauer was featured in the film, which was data analysis, and other features. Our website broadly disseminated through Netflix. is viewed by many journalists, academics, and policymakers as the “go to” site for current and comprehensive criminal justice data. Over the year our Facebook and Twitter accounts grew substantially. We also hosted Facebook Live interviews featuring staff members who authored two of our 2016 reports, Repurposing: New Beginnings for Closed Prisons and How Tough on Crime Became Tough on Kids.

Tracking and Framing New Developments The Sentencing Project continued monthly publication and dissemination of three unique electronic newsletters. Race and Justice News is the only newsletter in the U.S. covering up-to-the minute research, advocacy and policy reforms on all facets of race and criminal justice, while Disenfranchisement News is a comprehensive publication covering research, advocacy and policy reforms on the issue. Our State Advocacy Update reports on policy developments, emerging research, organizing activities, and news and editorial commentary of interest to local activists. 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 19 COMMENTARY BY THE SENTENCING PROJECT

How the Felony Drug Ban Keeps One would hope that this shift, in part, reflects an Thousands of Americans Hungry understanding of the failure of the punitive “war on drugs” approach to substance abuse. But it also Jeremy Haile seems clear that the political environment is related Talk Poverty, March 21, 2016 to how racial perceptions frame our attitudes on The felony drug ban imposes a lifetime restriction social policy. on the cash assistance program, TANF, and Until we acknowledge the complex ways in nutrition assistance, SNAP, for anyone convicted which racial perceptions frame public policy, we of a state or federal drug felony, unless states risk reinforcing a two-tiered approach that only opt out. A study by The Sentencing Project hardens social divisions.” found that in the 12 states that impose the lifetime ban, an estimated 180,000 women are Real prison reform must take long look at impacted...and because drug law enforcement is life sentences conducted with racial biases, people of color are disproportionately denied assistance. Ashley Nellis The Hill, September 15, 2016

Our compassion for drug users should Despite a slowing of prison population growth not be determined by race over the last several years, and even declines in a Marc Mauer handful of states, the rise in life-sentenced inmates The Guardian, January 7, 2016 has continued. And it is occurring despite a decline in violent crimes over the same period. Nationally, “At the inception of the war on drugs in the one in nine prisoners is serving a life sentence, 1980s, leaders of both parties endorsed harsh totaling out to more than 159,000 people. Two- punishments and mandatory sentencing as their thirds are people of color. The majority of lifers preferred approach to substance abuse, with have been convicted of serious, violent offenses, seemingly little interest in supporting prevention but the length of time before the potential for and treatment. Three decades later, there is unity release is out of step with international and again, but now characterized by a broader vision of human rights norms and also with the latest the problem. So how did this come about? research on crime. 20 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Commentary: Should felons vote? Yes the nation’s highest incarceration rate for black men, nearly twice the national average. One in Marc Mauer 15 adult black men in Oklahoma is in prison, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 17, 2016 compared with a national average of 1 in 26. “Why should we permit people with felony African-Americans are not more likely to use or sell convictions to vote? In part, this is what democracy drugs, but biased policing practices as well as state is all about. Voting rights are determined based on drug laws that have a disparate impact on blacks citizenship, not character...Think about a person mean they are more likely to wind up in prison, coming home from a five-year prison sentence. where whites convicted of similar offenses may get He is most likely to succeed if he can get a job, alternative outcomes. find a place to live, and establish strong ties to the community. If we tell him that he’s a second-class Law and order agenda should take note citizen who can’t vote, that can only create barriers of bipartisanship's results to his integration. By extending the right to vote to people who have made mistakes, we can both Kara Gotsch build a more inclusive democracy and make our Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 29, 2016 communities safer.” “As this politically divided nation prepares for the transition of power, President-elect Trump should Point of View: It's time to address racial take the time to talk to his Republican colleagues disparities in Oklahoma's prisons to review the national success story of criminal Ashley Nellis and Ryan Kiesel, ACLU of Oklahoma justice reform. In recent years, America’s prison The Oklahoman, July 29, 2016 population has finally stabilized after nearly 40 years of unprecedented growth. Most states have A new report on racial disparities in state prisons seen declines in their prison populations because underscores the need for policymakers and state of policy reforms that curbed mandatory minimum administrators in Oklahoma to take a hard look sentences for low-level drug crimes, scaled at the policies, practices and prejudices that are back imprisonment for technical violations of playing out in the state’s criminal justice system. parole and diverted small-time property and drug The Sentencing Project found that Oklahoma has offenses from incarceration.” 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 21 Board of Directors

PRESIDENT Cynthia Jones The Honorable Nancy Gertner American University (Retired) Washington College of Law Harvard Law School

VICE PRESIDENT Mark MacDougall Angela J. Davis Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld American University LLP Washington College of Law Susan Tucker SECRETARY Justice Reinvestment Initiatives Robert Creamer New York City Department of Strategic Communications Probation (Former) Consulting Group Bobby N. Vassar TREASURER Minority Subcommittee on Crime, Ashley McSwain Terrorism and Homeland Security Consultants for Change U.S. House Judiciary Committee (Former) Daryl Atkinson Second Chance Fellow The Honorable Gregory A. U.S. Department of Justice Weeks (Retired) Superior Court of North Carolina Robert D. Crutchfield University of Washington Department of Sociology 2222 | |THE THE SENTENCING SENTENCING PROJECT PROJECT Staff

Marc Mauer Ashley Nellis, Ph.D. Executive Director Senior Research Analyst

Casey Anderson Terry Nixon Program Associate Director of Operations

Jean Chung Nicole D. Porter Communications Manager Director of Advocacy

Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Ph.D. Josh Rovner Research Analyst Juvenile Justice Advocacy Associate Kara Gotsch Director of Strategic Initiatives Jessica Yoo Program Associate Jeremy Haile Federal Advocacy Counsel

Marc Levin Interns Development Consultant Zack Eckles Morgan McLeod Sami Ghubril Communications Manager Elizabeth McCurdy

20152016 ANNUAL ANNUAL REPORT REPORT | 23 | 23 MANY THANKS TO OUR generous supporters

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24 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Michael D. Morganstern Cynthia E. Jones Kevin Crane Namaste Foundation Elizabeth Kantor Robert D. Crutchfield Michael P. Puisis Katherine Katcher Beth Curtis Peter Peyser Jeffrey Kerr Robin Eastman-Abaya Returning Home Foundation Jane Lerner Frank Einstein Philip and Mercy Rome Judith Lichtenberg John Evans Evan T. Tenenbaum Jaime and Sylvia Liwerant Jonathan Gibson Michael Tonry Gilbert Lopez Ira and Trude Glasser Henrie Treadwell James McCarthy Suzanne Gylfe Melinda A. Tuhus and Robert D. Dubrow Ruth H. Melville Donald and Ann Hague United Methodist Women Matthew Namer Peter Harnik Roberta Van Houweling Martha Rayner Trudy Ruth Hayden Thomas and Susan Wardell Eve S. Rosahn Daniel Hecker Robert Weiss San Francisco Foundation Edward Herman Lois Q. Whitman Gordon Schiff HHD Foundation Peter Sills Fumiko Jensen Craig Smith Patricia A. Kates $500 to $999 Marcus and Celena Smith Joseph Kelaghan Nate and Karin Van Duzer Barbara L. Kessler and Richard Soble Anonymous (2) The Honorable Gregory Weeks Daniel Klein 1002 Foundation Peter Yedidia Janet P. Kramer 1871 Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Kurt A. and Elizabeth Young Fred Krasner David Albrecht Merle and Phyllis Krause Phyllis C. Annett Luis Lainer Aviva Aron-Dine $250 to $499 Nancy F. Lee Carol Aucamp Ian Lind Benevity OneWorld Anonymous (2) Helen E. Longino Watson Branch Sara Adland Joyce Mast Robert Creamer Brian Alexander Edward and Alice Mattison Angela J. Davis Shirley Baccus-Lobel William E. McDaniels Dharma Merchant Services Robert W. Bohall Shingirai Middelmann Matthew Eskuche Nancy Brittain Christina Morehead Patricia Fellner Michael Z. Castleman Allan Noonan Frank Firke The Chicago Community Trust Northern Virginia Ethical Society Eric Fisher William N. Clark Patricia E. O’Connor Michael Gompertz David Cole Mark and Joan Olson John Hart Richard Coleman William Preston William Johnson Encana Corporation

2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 25 Mary E. Richards Marc Atkins Martha W.D. Bushnell Pamela Roberts Nancy Atlas Michael Butterworth Robert C. Sash Audre Azuolas Pamela Calvert William Schwarzer Chiraag Bains Aaron Campbell Samuel Scott Steven E. Barkan Allen Campbell Andrew Seligsohn Alan Barnett Brenda Carleton Elisabeth A. Semel and James S. Chris Barnum Juan Cartagena Thomson Jesse Barton Gene Cass Philip R. Simmons Paul W. Beach Debra Chaplan Joseph Singer Duncan Beale Paul Chernick Sisters of the Divine Savior Margaret and Robert Bearse Lucy Ann Christopher Elizabeth Stillinger Douglas Beattie and Linda Eichengreen Alison Cien Fuegos Stephen Strahs David Berliner Polly Cleveland and Thomas Haines Judith L. Tharp Wilson Bethel Ann Cockrell Stephen Van Eck Susan Blackman Rosemary Coffey Charles B. Vetzner Marc Bloom Rachel Cohen Johanna Wald Eric Blumenson Nicholas Cole Derek Walker Karen Blumenthal Veronica F. Coleman-Davis Mary and Joseph Watson The Boeing Company Community of Celebration John D. Wayman Linda K. Bowen Mary M. Connors Elizabeth Williamson Francis Boylan Chris Cooper Bernard Brachfeld Kay Cooper Eric Braden Ronald Corbett $100 to $249 Lynn Branham Tom and Judy Croxton Robert and Paula Brent Joanne Cunningham Virginia and Stephen Abrams Jody and Sheila Breslaw Bernadette M. Darakjy Accountable Bookkeeping Services Marc I. Breslow Margaret R. Davis Sean Adcroft Carol A. Brook Dawn Day Francine Alexander Cynthia Brooks Lawrence de Graaf Albert W. Alschuler Dorothy Brooks Michele Deitch Rachael D. Amber Frederick Brown Bailey Delongh Glen A. Anderson Jeffrey M. Brown Brett Dignam Sybil Anderson E. Wayles Browne John L. Ditman Barbara Appel Mary L. Bruce Keith Donoghue Carol R. Aronoff Linda Brunner Rory Dowd Sherman Aronson Michael Bryant Carol Drisko Claire Asarnow William C. Buhl Nan Martin Drummond Chester Ashby Delia Burke Steve Dunham 26 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT The Honorable William Dyson Roberta Gould Eric J. Hyman Lucia Edmonds Bill and Monica Grabin Erica and Sara Hyman Richard Eisen Busy Graham Anita Isen Richard Eisenstein William B. Grant Lea Isgur Vicki Elson Katherine Grayson George E. Jacklin Lewis B. Engel Ellen T. Greenlee Jay Jackman Jeffrey Fagan George H. Griffin Robert V. Jacobson Patricia Weiss Fagen Jean Griswold Steven Jacobson Dennis Faherty Samuel R. Gross Andre T. and Jean W. Jagendorf Catherine Feinen Diane Gunn Timothy Jamison Harvey Fernbach Lloyd H. Guptill Linda J. Jensen Michael Ferro Jean L. Guttman Andrea Johnson Dennis H. Fiems Jeremy and Jen Haile Claude and Neller Johnson Lois and Kenneth Fischbeck Anita Hampton Devon Johnson Marianne Fisher-Glorlando Hedda L. Haning Justin M. Johnson Leah Fitchue Marisa Harford Robert Johnson Jeffrey Fogel Rachel Brett Harley Diane Jones Michael C. Ford Carolyn M. Harris Nolan E. Jones Richard and Katharine Fournier Joan J. Harrison Jolanta Juszkiewicz Anne Frank Stephanie Hasiotis Rachel Kahn-Hut Richard S. Frase James D. Hauser Louis Kampf Amos P. Freeman Marie C. Hauser George C. Kandle Joshua Freeman Sandra Hausman Bianca Karteron Richard Friedberg Allen Hays Peter and Mary Katzenstein Michael Friedman and Susan Hasti Michael J. Healey Emily Kellindorfer The Honorable Stuart A. Friedman Walter and Roberta Hellman Frances Kellogg Mary Fusoni Harold Hernandez Ronald Kelly Charles Gardiner Philip and Ann Heymann Marie Kennedy Nancy and Whitney Garlinghouse Eileen Hiney Patricia C. Kenschaft Kathlyn Taylor Gaubatz Harry Hochheiser Philip C. Kimball Adam Gelb Joseph Holtz Jonah King Dale H. Gieringer Joseph Hopkins Rodney Kingsnorth Kenneth P. Giles John Horejsi Arthur Lee Kirk Joe Goldenson Richard A. Horvitz Dorie Klein Nathan L. Goldschlag Mark A. Hovis Karen Klein Robert Golub Randi T. Hughes William A. Kline Robert Goodrich Ron Hunnings Ita Kreft Theodore T. Gotsch Stephen Huson Martin Kreiswirth 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 27 Patricia S. Kuhi Jane Meyerding Estill Putney Marilyn Kunka Patricia Michl Nathan Quiring Nancy Kurshan Michael Mickelsen Lawrence Quirk Jack Ladinsky Joann L. Miller Helen Raizen Nancy Lang Laura Miller James E. Reilly John F. Lasser Thomas C. Mitchell Martin and Julia Reisig Edwin and Judith Leonard Myra Mitzman Jeanne Richman Steve Lerner Kevin Morris Allen Rickert John Leubsdorf Maureen Mulligan Rachel Ritvo Susan M. Licht Stephen Munkelt Lora Roberts Arend Lijphart Edward Munyak Avrom Robin Peter Lindenfeld Elliott C. Murray Ann and Clayton Robson Nia Lizanna Andrea E. Nash Rebecca Rodgers Leslie Lomas Joan M. Nelson Gale Rogers Linda Lustig Katherine Nelson Rod Rogers Andrea Lyon Stephen Nelson Constancia Romilly Alice A. Lytle Martha and Lorenzo Nencioli Oren and Barbara Root Susan Madeira Naomi Nightingale Allan Rosen Barry Mahoney Nicole O’Connor Sandra and William Rosen Charles Mandell John E. Olson David and Deborah Rothschild Audrey Gore Marcus Susan W. Oppenheim John A. Rowe Lois Markham Chris Gordon Owen Mark Rowland Lynda Markham Sabrina Pacifici Barbara Rudolph Charles Marlow Philip Palade Mary Russell Hubert and Rachelle Marshall Sanford Parnes Amanda Ryan Terry M. Marshall Patricia G. Parthe Deborah Sanchez The Honorable Gordon A. Martin Judith W. Paton John Savarese Susan Martin Lynn Gubisch Patton Nathan E. Savin Wesley Mason Robert Phenix Anita Savio Christine Matthews Michael L. Piccarreta Cassandra Savoy Margaret S. Maurin R. Pikser Louis Sawyer Stacy McDonald Sheila Pinkel Stephen Schewel Patricia McDougle Eli Plenk Christine Schmidt Belle McMaster Anne Powell Dorothy M. Schmidt Ashley McSwain Julie D. Prandi David Schonfeld Robert and Ellen Meeropol Hank Prensky Alan M. Schuman The Meisberger Family Kate Pritchard Claire Schwadron Isa-Kae Meksin Doris Marie Provine James Scofield 28 | THE SENTENCING PROJECT Kate Scow Ben R. Stavis Hugh Westwater Elizabeth Seagull Barbara Anne Steck Ariel White Jessica Searing Adria Steinberg Janet Wiig Gerald and Ann Serafino Eric E. Sterling Andrew Wild John Serena Diana Stewart Alfred Williams Mark Shaffer Richard Stillinger Stanley Wine Mary L. Shanley Dorothy Stoneman Martha Winnacker Joan Shapiro Michael L. Stout Ellen J. Winner Steven F. Shatz Michael Strasser Doris Witherspoon-David Peter Shaw Susan Strasser Janet Wolf Kitty P. Sherwin John S. Sultzbaugh Peter Wolf Jeanne Shirk Bob A. Summers Jennifer J. Yanco Moisy Shopper Holly Syrrakos Jennifer Yolles Alan Sieroty Barbara Takemoto-Weerts Richard and Lauri Zarin Ruth Sievers Theodore Tapper H. Berrien Zettler Bernice Silverman William Taxerman Paul Zimmerman Gary L. and Vicki E. Simon Patricia Taylor Marjorie Zuckerman Edward C. Simonoff C. Gomer Thomas and E. Jane Cameron David Zurcher Walter Simpson Emily Thomas David and Joan Weimer Steven and Sue Simring Virginia Tittleton Richard Werber Robert and Judith Sinsheimer Jackis Titus Raymond West Sisters of Charity Lane N. Tracy Donald Wheat Arthur Slater Meredeth Turshen Richard D. Wheatley, Sr. The Honorable Terry Smerling David Veale Janet K. Wiig Earl Smith Valerie Voorheis Carolyn Williams Zane Smith Diane Wachtell Martha Winnacker Geneva Smitherman Cynthia Waite Janet Wolf Robert Smolen Douglas Walters Allen Wolk Robert H. Smolen Rebecca Warner Angela Wyatt William L. Snyder Roxanne Warren Arthur Yaghjian Doris Solberg J.D. Wayman Kurt and Elizabeth Young Barbara Spack Frances Weiner Marcia Zuckerman Richard Speiglman Martin and Sally Weinraub James W. Zumwalt Michael Spielman Anthony Weiss Barbara Zylinski Solveig Spjeldnes Dorothy E. Weitzman Anita Sra John V. Wells Robert Stack Lisa Werchow Eric and Tobi Starin Lawrence and Joanne Weschler 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 29 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5% REVENUE Foundations Foundations 630,000 33% Individuals Individuals 332,815 Other Other 54,062 62% TOTAL $1,016,877

EXPENSES 7% 7% Program services Program services 1,215,379 Fundraising Fundraising 93,655 Management 86% Management and general 95,262 & general TOTAL $ 1,404,296

3030 | THE| THE SENTENCING SENTENCING PROJECT PROJECT

The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing policy, addressing unjust racial disparities and practices, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration. 1705 DeSales Street NW, 8th Floor Washington, D.C. 20036 sentencingproject.org