Press Release

Media Contact:
Rabiah Burks, 202-822-6700
rburks@famm.org

FAMM’s virtual briefing on home confinement available to stream

Short panels discuss employment, family life and the struggles of serving uncertain home confinement terms

WASHINGTON – FAMM’s virtual briefing discussing the ongoing issues surrounding those released to home confinement during the pandemic is now available on FAMM’s YouTube channel. Each panel title below links to that portion of the discussion (approximately 15 minutes).

Sessions in the video include:

Background on home confinement problem/How did we get here?

This panel will focus on how 4,000 people on CARES Act Home Confinement became at risk for returning back to prison.

Moderator: Kevin Ring, FAMM President. Panelists: Dianthe Brooks, currently serving CARES Act Home Confinement and Udi Offer, Deputy National Political Director of the ACLU and Director of the ACLU’s Justice Division.

Directly impacted voices

You’ll hear from two people with the cloud of returning to prison hanging over their heads. Our two speakers will discuss the effects of this decision on themselves, their family, friends and loved ones.

Moderator: Scott Roberts, the Senior Director of Criminal Justice Campaigns for Color Of Change. Panelists: Cheryl Johnson and Travis Rogers, both currently serving CARES Act Home Confinement.

The problem with home confinement 

Sending people to home confinement was a life-saving measure during the pandemic — and now that people have gone home, they’ve had a chance to rebuild their lives, from re-establishing relationships to getting jobs in their community. Our speakers will discuss the impact of doing the work to forge those paths, and the impact of the fear of being sent back to prison.

Moderator: Amanda Hall, campaign director at DreamCorps JUSTICE. Panelists: Gwen Levi and Lynn Espejo, criminal justice advocates.

Business & law enforcement voices

Employers and law enforcement leaders will discuss how the CARES Act Home confinement issue has impacted their businesses and public safety.

Moderator: James Williams, vice president of criminal justice advocacy at Arnold Ventures. Panelists: Lorenzo Bersoza, Adaquate A/C & Heating and Mark Osler, of the Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration.

For nearly three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM’s focus on ending a one-size-fits-all punishment structure has led to reforms to sentencing and prison policies at the state and federal level and is paving the way to programs that support rehabilitation for the 94% of all prisoners who will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safeguard taxpayer dollars and keep our communities safe. Founded in 1991, FAMM is helping transform America’s criminal justice system by uniting the voices of impacted families and individuals and elevating the issues all across the country.