Current Advocacy Efforts
Endless Criminal Justice Reform Advocacy
Our work never ends. We’re continuously advocating for individuals and families enmeshed in the criminal justice system.
Act Now
Iowa’s incarcerated people need your help! They need and deserve fair and legitimate medically-appropriate treatment and it is incumbent on us as fellow humans to see they receive such treatment. Sub-standard treatment should not be tolerated or perpetuated by the Iowa Department of Corrections, nor the state legislators of Iowa. Please contact your legislators on the Public Health and Judiciary Committees, contact the ACLU, and/or write letters to the editor. The following article in the Iowa Capitol Dispatch explains our outrage.
2023 Legislation
During the 2023 legislative session, our ally, the Reform Alliance, advocated for a very important probation reform bill that would expand education and employment credits for those serving probation, thus enabling them to more successfully reintegrate into the workforce. This is not only of benefit to the individuals involved but it also would have helped address the serious labor shortage in Iowa. Both economic and justice impacts existed, but unfortunately, the legislation did not make it out of the Senate after being successfully passed by the House with bipartisan support. We hope to see this legislation reintroduced next year.
Another positive bill was HF 125, renumbered HR 594, which would have removed the restitution requirement for persons under 18 who commit homicide related to trafficking. This bill was referred to Judiciary. We hope to see this legislation reintroduced during the next legislative session.
Bills We Opposed and Were Not Passed
- HSB 104 – imposed extremely long sentences for fentanyl sales resulting in a death.
- HSB 155 – created mandatory minimum sentences for felons possessing firearms.
- SF 14 – reintroduced the death penalty.