Mercy and common sense must be a partner to justice.

Excessive, lengthy sentences for individuals who have committed crimes, both violent and non-violent are costly, counterproductive, and inhumane.

Because of spending long decades in prison:

--Many of those who are returning to their communities must start over at an age when most are already established in life and preparing for retirement.
--Many of those will have lost their partners & family members and will have no support system to return to.
--Many of those who are returning after spending decades in prison will struggle with PTSD, mental health issues, drug addiction and the shock of returning to a community that has left them behind.

And then there are the facts that:

--Many of those given long sentences were offered shorter prison terms, as lenient as four years, under plea deals that they didn’t take.
--Many of those with long sentences never took a life, but they have served many more years than the person who committed the more serious crime.
--Many of those with long sentences suffered horrific abuse, torture and neglect during their childhood.
--Many of those serving time in prison may in fact be innocent.
--Many of those in the Texas prison who have worked hard to turn their life around deserve a consideration for parole from the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Every prisoner should have the opportunity to have earned time credits count. Earned time credits through diligent rehabilitative programs can:

• reduce the length of stay for all inmates while maintaining public safety,
• create an incentive for inmates to work, take part in rehabilitation, and otherwise prepare to be successful in the community after release, and
• help Texas reduce the corrections budget burden and allow funds saved to be invested in programs that reduce recidivism and help build safe communities.

We will be urging our elected officials to consider the benefits of earned time credits for parole eligibility in the upcoming Legislative Session.

We need everyone on board to make this happen. When you sign this petition, we can let you know when the time for action has arrived.

We will make sure our voices are heard on this important issue!