Congress: Ban Life Sentences for Nonviolent Drug Charges!
Thousands of individuals are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for non-violent drug charges that are often first offenses. Four out of five are minorities and basically all of them are poor.
Sharanda P. Jones was prosecuted for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. She had never been arrested before, no drugs were found on her, and the whole case was doubtful. Yet she was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of life without the possibility of parole, leaving her 9-year-old daughter to fend for herself. She has already been in prison for 14 years and will most likely die there.
Danielle Metz was married to an abusive man who sold drugs. In order to pacify him she would sometimes go and get cocaine. After a particularly abusive encounter, she took her children and left him. Shortly after, she was charged, mainly to get her to testify against her husband. Because she didn't have enough information for a reduced sentence, she now has been in prison for 20 years.
The United States is spending colossal amounts of money to imprison young, nonviolent offenders who have never been arrested before. This is unjust and it's a waste of both tax money and of these people's lives.
Please tell the United States Congress to ban sentencing nonviolent drug offenders to die in prison!
Dear United States Congress,
Thousands of people are being sentenced to die in prison without the possibility of parole for first time offenses that are non-violent drug charges. Basically all of them are poor and four out of five are minorities.
For example, Danielle Metz was married to an abusive man and in order to pacify him she would sometimes go get cocaine. Shortly after she left him with the kids due to a particularly abusive encounter she was charged, mainly to get her to testify against him. Because she didn't have enough knowledge for a reduced sentence she has now been in prison for 20 years.
Sharanda P. Jones was prosecuted for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine even though no drugs were found on her, she had never been arrested before, and there was no evidence. She was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of life without the possibility of parole, leaving her 9-year-old daughter without a mother. Jones has been in jail for 14 years.
This is extremely unfair and unjust. Why is the United States spending so much money to incarcerate these individuals that do not deserve to live their lives behind bars?
Please ban sentencing nonviolent drug offenders to die in prison.
Thank you for your time.
