Most people believe that life sentences keep people safe, but the evidence actually points to the opposite. In fact, life sentences were never originally designed to last for life.  

 

In this episode, Hunter speaks with two individuals from the Sentencing Project: Campaign Strategist to End Life Imprisonment Alexandra Bailey and Senior Research Analyst Nazgol Ghandnoosh.

 

They will share evidence to support their claim that safer communities can be created without harsh sentencing. Then, they’ll explain ways that life imprisonment and mandatory minimum negatively affect both families and the criminal system as a whole.

 

Alexandra and Nazgol both agree that life without parole should be abolished completely, and they’ll give you more effective alternatives that could be implemented instead of harsh sentencing. 

 

By the time you’re done listening, you’ll be questioning whether the United States has gone too far when it comes to sentencing. 

 

Key Topics and Takeaways:

 

• Nazgol shares her background. [5:36]
• Why life sentences aren’t actually helpful. [7:13]
• Tough on crime. [9:05]
• How lengthy sentences have impacted the criminal system. [12:49]
• Extreme sentences and age. [20:19]
• Why life without parole sentences should be abolished entirely. [41:42]
• Mandatory minimums. [47:30]
• Alternatives to harsh sentencing. [53:25]

 

Guests:

 

Alexandra Bailey, Campaign Strategist to End Life Imprisonment, Sentencing Project 

 

Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Senior Research Analyst, Sentencing Project

 

Resources:

 

Sentencing Project 

 

Lawanda Hollister

 

Memorable Quotes:

 

“The death penalty needs to be abolished. It's a barbaric, antiquated punishment that does not serve any function in a modern, civilized society at all. It's gotta go away.” (1:22, Hunter)

 

“If policing and incarceration made a nation safe, this would be the safest nation on earth.” (9:53 Alexandra)

 

“When you imprison someone for decades on end, you are holding people incarcerated who are no longer a public safety risk. In several cases like this, the person who they harmed or the survivors of their crime no longer want them to even be incarcerated. But the system's hands are tied by mandatory sentencing policies.” (16:25, Nazgol)

 

“If mandatory minimums and these extreme sentences are not working, and they're not, then we need to figure out what we're gonna do about it.” (27:52, Alexandra)

 

“Life sentences and extreme sentences are not only ineffective, but they're actually counterproductive. They're preventing us from actually pursuing policies that would effectively reduce crime rates and prevent future victimization.” (42:54, Nazgol)

 

“People are human and I think we have to look at this whole system with a lot more compassion.” (55:01, Alexandra)

 

Contact Hunter Parnell:[email protected]

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www.publicdefenseless.com