Lead: Rupert Ayton, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, Bellingham, WA
Vision: Based upon our Unitarian Universalist principles, we are called to work to make “Equal Justice for All” a reality in our country, our state, and our communities.
Mission: We work with Northwest Unitarian Universalists and others in our communities to provide humane, science driven solutions to the criminal justice system. We educate, organize, and activate those who want to see justice applied fairly for all.
Background: The Criminal Justice Reform Action Team will be looking a a number of issues affecting our methods of dealing with individuals as to how they enter into the criminal justice, their treatment once in the system, the economic impacts and humane considerations to rehabilitation, sentencing, and other decisions that are made. In particular, the current three top issues are:
- Abolishing the Death Penalty
- Eliminating Cash Bail
- Challenging Private Prisons
Granted there are many more issues tied to our criminal justice system including incarceration rates, racial and ethnic bias, restorative justice, economic impacts, and more. Have a criminal justice issue close to your heart? Check in with us and see how we can support your efforts to guide change in our criminal justice system.