Directions:

Use this easy tool and write the Judiciary Committee today! If your legislator sits on the Judiciary Committee that heard the bill on 9/16/15 you can help pass this bill into law! See the Committee members HERE.

If your legislator does not sit on the committee you can ask them to contact the Judiciary Committee too! (Just make a few tweaks to this letter to make it fit.)

Use this Quick Action, Pre-Crafted Letter.

You can use the sample letter as-is, or include or substitute your own language about why restorative justice is so important to you.If you have a particular experience or professional connection to this issue, please share your own words about it near the top of the letter.

Sample Letter to Elected:

Subject: Restorative Justice in MA: Support H1313

Body Text:

I am writing in support of H1313: An Act Promoting Restorative Justice Practices, Lead sponsor - Rep. Sean Garballey. The bill was considered by your committee on Wednesday 9/16/15.

This bill would open the door for healthy, efficient, money-saving restorative justice practices to be used in our juvenile and adult criminal system.

Restorative justice approaches across the nation are showing a 50% and higher drop in recidivism, and high satisfaction rates among victims, offenders, communities, and officials within the law enforcement and corrections fields.

Massachusetts stands ready to be a pioneer in an emerging national trend toward cost-savings and community-healing through restorative justice. Significant support for this bill comes from the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Massachusetts Major City Police Chiefs, 12 other police chiefs, judges and many community groups across the state. For a list of supporters click HERE.

We spend on average about $50,000 per year, per inmate, to keep someone in jail – and there is no single factor more determinative of incarceration than a prior incarceration.

Restorative justice looks at all crime as a violation of relationships involving families, communities, relationships and feelings. It asks: what harm was done to whom? How can the harm be repaired? Who is responsible for the repair? It nips criminal activity in the bud more effectively than incarceration, and provides a more healing and thorough response to those who have caused harm and those harmed.

Please give your full support to this important bill.

Sincerely,

[your name and place of residency]