Take Politics Out of Parole

TAKE ACTION NOW

For more than two decades, Marylanders given parole-eligible life sentences have been systematically denied a meaningful opportunity for parole, regardless of whether they have earned it.

Maryland's parole system is broken for the nearly 2,100 people who are serving parole-eligible life sentences. Our state is one of only three in the country where the governor must personally approve parole for Marylanders serving life with parole sentences, even after rigorous vetting by the entire Parole Commission. This has wrongly politicized the system.

Send a message to your legislators and ask them to support taking politics out of parole during the 2021 legislative session.

Please take action now.

Message Recipients:
Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland State Senate

Image from the cover of the Still Blocking the Exit report by ACLU of Maryland. Images of Black people with blue, green, orange, and purple color overlays over their pictures.

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Your Message

Subject

Dear Representative,

I am a Maryland resident and am concerned about Maryland’s broken parole system. I ask that you support taking politics out of parole during the 2021 legislative session.

Nearly 2,100 people are serving parole-eligible life sentences. It is wrong when people who have done everything asked of them, and who have been rehabilitated in the eyes of the Parole Commission, are still likely die in prison, often after serving many more decades than anyone expected.

The problem is that Maryland's system is one of only three in the country where the governor must personally approve parole for Marylanders serving life with parole sentences, a process that has become highly politicized.

Due to this broken system Maryland pays nearly $70 million per year to lock up people serving parole-eligible life sentences. Many of them have been recommended for parole several times by the Maryland Parole Commission.

Message Body

It is time to take the politics out of parole once and for all.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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Take Politics Out of Parole

TAKE ACTION NOW

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