Background

We call for a transformation of our current system of criminal justice, which today is used principally as an instrument of retribution — a policy contrary to our Quaker beliefs.

The judicial system divides responsibilities for prosecution and incarceration between the local, state, and federal levels. Advocacy and changes at each level are critical for ending mass incarceration.

Mandatory minimum sentences—laws that require binding prison terms for certain crimes—are one reason so many people are behind bars in the U.S. today.

Dozens of wrongly-convicted persons (including several on death row) have been exonerated of crimes. DNA testing has played an important role in a number of exonerations.

There are many reasons to end the use of the death penalty. Executing criminals does not effectively address the roots of violence in our society. It has not been shown to effectively deter the sorts of crimes for which it is applied. It does not restore lives destroyed by acts of violence.

The federal government’s budget process rarely matches the ideal. But the ins and outs of authorizing and appropriating funds often shape the money that gets spent. And that affects people’s lives.

As we focus on building more inclusive communities, we support local and federal policing reforms that seek to eliminate racial profiling and disproportionate targeting of communities of color.

Why do these 300 Young Adult Friends care so much about climate change? In this QuakerSpeak video, they explain the political and spiritual importance of their advocacy.

The way we teach civics matters. In this QuakerSpeak video, Carolina Friends School teacher Randall Williams shows how Quaker School teachers can engage students by showing civics in action.

For 18 years, Lon Burnam was a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He is also a Quaker and a pacifist. In this QuakerSpeak video, he shares his story.