The New York Times Highlights For The People’s Work to Drive Reform

There are approximately 2 million people incarcerated in the United States, but many do not need to be there. Experts estimate that hundreds of thousands could be safely released and reunited with their families with little to no risk of recidivism. Yet prosecutors — the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system — have historically lacked the ability to reevaluate past sentences handed down by their offices

Pioneered by founder and Executive Director Hillary Blout, For The People’s solution began by creating, passing, and implementing the nation’s first Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing (PIR) law. The law allows prosecutors to revise sentences their offices originally sought, remedying the harm caused by extreme punishments.

In 2019, California became the first state to adopt PIR. By 2023, four additional states had passed the law, resentencing roughly 1,000 people. But out of all the people returning home, only a few were women.

A New York Times article tells the story of Dena Hernandez, the first person to be released under For The People’s women’s initiative. For The People, a DRK portfolio organization, stepped in for Dena when the system fell short — and now they are doing the same for other women left behind by prison reform.