Resolution Calls for Ending Cash Bail, Mandatory Minimums, and Private Prisons to Shrink Incarceration Crisis

This resolution lays out a massive, comprehensive vision for overhauling the U.S. justice system, declaring that the federal government has a moral obligation to fundamentally shrink the number of people behind bars and shift resources toward community well-being. It’s not a law itself, but a blueprint demanding Congress repeal punitive policies like the 1994 Crime Bill and replace them with a public health approach. Key demands include ending money bail, abolishing private prisons, guaranteeing incarcerated workers the federal minimum wage, and retroactively applying all new, reduced sentences. Essentially, it’s a detailed plan to move the U.S. from being the world’s leading incarcerator to a system focused on restoration and equity.

The End of Paying to Get Out

One of the most immediate changes proposed hits the wallet: this resolution demands the end of secured bonds and money bail. If you’ve ever had a friend or family member arrested for a minor offense, you know the stress of scrambling for thousands of dollars just to get them home before trial. This plan mandates grants to states to create alternative pretrial systems, ensuring that your freedom isn't determined by your bank account balance. It also calls for repealing court fines and fees for people who can't pay, ensuring that nonpayment of a ticket or fee doesn't result in jail time or the loss of voting rights. This is a huge win for economic fairness, especially for working families and those living paycheck to paycheck.

Shorter Sentences and the Return of Parole

For those currently incarcerated, the resolution aims to dramatically reduce time served. It demands the end of mandatory minimum sentences and the reinstatement of federal parole, which was largely eliminated by tough-on-crime laws. It also proposes sentence caps for all crimes, especially those that didn't involve serious harm. Crucially, it mandates that any new, reduced sentencing rules must apply retroactively to everyone already serving time. Imagine someone who received a twenty-year sentence under old, harsh drug laws; this measure would require their sentence to be reviewed and reduced under the new, fairer standard. It also establishes a national standard for compassionate release, creating a presumption of release for elderly or disabled individuals who have served significant time.

Dignity Behind Bars: Work, Health, and Communication

The resolution pushes for profound changes to the experience of confinement, moving away from punishment toward rehabilitation. It requires ending forced labor and ensuring that incarcerated workers are paid at least the federal minimum wage—a huge shift from the pennies-per-hour model currently in place. It also mandates high-quality, trauma-informed healthcare, including full reproductive services and gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. For families, this means free phone calls and video conferencing, generous in-person visitation, and facilities that are located closer to home. This focus on human rights also includes banning solitary confinement and ensuring that transgender individuals are housed according to their gender identity.

Who Bears the Cost of Change?

While the benefits for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals are massive, this overhaul hits some established systems hard. The resolution demands the abolition of private prisons and immigration detention centers, which directly impacts the bottom line of the corporations that run them. Furthermore, it seeks to eliminate qualified immunity for police and correctional officers and severely restrict civil asset forfeiture (where police can seize property without a criminal conviction). This is intended to increase accountability, but it will undoubtedly face pushback from law enforcement agencies accustomed to these protections and revenue streams. Recognizing that these changes will disrupt local economies, the resolution includes a provision to guarantee a job, including necessary training, for every person currently working in a jail or prison, ensuring a smoother economic transition for those communities.