FedCURE's Federal Good Time Bill Campaign: "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America"

 

~ 112th Congress ~

 

National Call - to - Action ~ BARBER Amendment ~ Federal Good Time Bill  

 

 

Ninety Percent (92%) Public Support for BARBER Amendment - Good Time Bill.

 

Come on everyone!  Pitch in and contact the 112th Congress.  We can do it!

 

"BARBER Amendment" on the "Good Time Bill"

 

Sponsor BARBER Amendment - Good Time Bill | Sign the Petition!

Sign the petition on FedCURE/CHANGE.org:  http://snipurl.com/1o7gdj

Support | Comment the Barber Amedment on FedCURE/POPVOX:  http://pvox.co/JaNx5Y

Hi!  Thank you for coming & helping to reach out to the 112th Congress. Here are your campaing tools: First, sign the petition on this page and foward to your friends. Then start calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.  The Switchboard can direct you to your Congressional Representative and Senators.  Once you reach the office, you can use the talking points below or share your own story. Then go to:  POPVOX  and send your message to Congressional Members and Legislative Staff.   Finally, and most important, click on the "Contact Congress Now!" button, below, to send your message to your Congresspersons.

 

MESSAGE:

Dear Members of the 112th Congress of the United States, 

 

Subject:  The Barber Amendment - Increased Good Time Allowances.

 

I am asking you to please support The Barber Amendment which would amend Title 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)(1) as follows:  by striking the number "54" in the first sentence as it appears and inserting in lieu thereof the number "128"; and in the same sentence, by striking "prisoner's term of imprisonment"  and inserting in lieu thereof  "sentence imposed" .    This Amendment is retroactive.  [END].

 

Second Look:  The Federal Bureau of Prisons is operating at 149% over capacity.  A 10% reduction in the federal prison population would save taxpayers $1.2 billion dollars per year.  The President's Budget for FY 2012, includes millions of dollars in offsets for a proposed legislative initiative that would allow additional Good Conduct Time for inmates, as well as for general administrative efficiencies.   BARBER goes further to save $1.2 billion dollars annually.  Put that against the President's pay freeze for Federal employees that will save $28 billion over the next five years--the measure is a continuation of the administration’s Accountable Government Initiative, designed to cut cost and save taxpayer dollars.  

 

Bipartisan Support:  Republican's (www.RightOnCrime.com) and Democrat's (http://www.besmartoncrime.org) and members of Congress agree that the current prison system is way so ineffective and that we have been wrong on crime for the past 28 years.  It has been a escalating burden on taxpayers who are footing the bill for more prisons.  The penal model enacted by Public Law 98-473 (Sentencing Reform Act of 1984) of "incapacitation" in lieu of "rehabilitation and reentry" has failed miserably.   We can and must do better.   


Our economic crisis is due in part to the state of our judicial system where so many first time non violent offenders are given Draconian sentences and no means to redeem themselves. Once in the prison system, they have no reason to desire rehabilitation or work towards early release.
 
Americans want to see results, not stiffer sentences. We can change they way the judicial system enforces punishment and how inmates serve their time in a way that would benefit both the inmate and society. The Barber Amendment would benefit the following:

 

*  The Barber Amendment allows the Federal Bureau of Prisons to maintain correctional worker staffing and help relieve overcrowding of prisons.

 

*  The Barber Amendment saves taxpayers $1.2 billion dollars per year.

 

*  Releasing 10% of the federal prison population pursuant to existing Federal Bureau of Prisons policy and procedures poses no risk to public safety.

 

*  The Barber Amendment - Good Time Allowances rewards those inmates who have shown positive behavior.

 

*  Although early release would not be guaranteed, it would allow a Second Chance to those who prove they are deserving of it.

 

*  The cost to house an inmate for 12 months is almost $30,000.00.  Costs rise significantly for all inmates over age 60 and nearly double or quadruple for inmates with medical issues.

 

*  People in prison do not receive the same health care as free people and lengthy non-parolable sentences cause medical emergencies for those in facilities; and huge indigent health care costs upon release.

 

*  The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) is the largest police force in the United States.  The AFGE.org, the FBOP's labor union, is battling on the Hill to add 15,000 correctional officers because of safety concerns due to overcrowding and budget cuts. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that building additional bed space in prisons will not resolve the systemic issues of the prison system.  We can not build our way out of this.

 

*  The BOP has been triple bunking because of lack of bed space, which heightens tensions and makes it more dangerous for both staff and inmates.

 

Federal Sentencing data collected, post Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (over 28 years) provides the gold standard of evidence on what works and what does not; and when is the proper time to release an offender from a sentence while posing no risk to public safety.   I would also direct you to these facts:  http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=164544453571541

 

The government's experts on these issues all support reforms, as evidenced by the FedCURE NEWS Presentation on Second Look.  Take the time to watch U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer (Video #1), U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder (Video #2) and most of all, Patricia Cushwa, Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission  (Video #11) and Harley G. Lappin, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (Video #8).  I would be remiss, however, if I did not strongly urge you to view all of  the video's on "Panel Four: Good Time, Community Corrections and Re-Entry."  See the exclusive videos here:  http://www.fedcure.org/SecondLook.shtml

 

Since inmates "earned" the right to be in prison, why can't they also "earn" the right to be out?

 

The Barber Amendment of 2011 would greatly contribute to the healing of our economy and the healing of our nation. There are almost 211,000 people incarcerated in federal prison today and the majority of these are first time non violent offenders, whom under current Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Probation Office procedures, can be safely released via increased good time allowances, with no threat to public safety.

 

Accordingly, I urge you, in the most strongest terms, to please support The Barber Amendment. 
  
Sincerely Yours,

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Be Relentless:
•  Keep calling until your Congressperson(s) agree to sponsor the BARBER Amendment, make an appointment to see them, if  necessary to get their support.

  Contact Congress
  

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