Time is running out to save lives

People behind bars are losing their lives to COVID-19. Many of them were incarcerated for drug offenses. But with your help, we’ve been pressuring Congress to release people and save lives – and our advocacy is paying off.

The U.S. House recently passed the Heroes Act and included the decarceration priorities we’ve been lobbying for to protect people behind bars from COVID-19.

Now it’s time to take our fight to the Senate: tell your Senators to pass the Heroes Act and release people at risk of COVID-19.

Take Action

Your Message

Subject

Dear Senator,

Message Body

I urge the Senate to pass the Heroes Act which will provide life-saving relief for people at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, including justice-involved individuals and people who use drugs.

This bill was recently passed by the House and the Senate must act now to release people behind bars to save lives. The Heroes Act includes important decarceration measures I support such as:

-The “Emergency Community Supervision Act of 2020” (S. 3579/H.R. 6400), which would transfer from federal custody into community supervision individuals who are juveniles, medically vulnerable, over 50 years of age, or within 12 months of release from incarceration. The bill would also place important limitations around pre-trial detention.

-The “COVID–19 Correctional Facility Emergency Response Act of 2020” (Pending Senate introduction by Sens. Feinstein and Booker/H.R. 6414), which incentivizes state and local officials to reduce jail and prison populations and curtail pre-trial detention during the pandemic. It also funds state and local efforts for the testing and treatment of incarcerated people.

People in jails and prisons are losing their lives to COVID-19. Many of them were behind bars for drug offenses. A drug sentence should not be a death sentence. Although some steps have been taken to release people to fight the spread of the virus, it is not enough.

Hundreds of thousands more are still at risk, which also places correctional staff and surrounding communities at risk of exposure. Protecting everyone during this unprecedented health crisis requires prioritizing the health and safety of people who are incarcerated. That’s why I hope you will support decarceration efforts by passing the Heroes Act immediately.

Sincerely,

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

Your Information

Salutation *

First name *

Last name *

E-mail address *

Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone

* Drug Policy Alliance is committed to protecting your privacy and will never share your email address.

If you sign and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from the Drug Policy Alliance.

If you take action and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from the Drug Policy Alliance.

If you donate and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from the Drug Policy Alliance.