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COUNTDOWN TO ERASE HEARING

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

On July 18, 2022, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s birthday, an extraordinary bill was introduced in the  DC Legislature. 

DC Councilmember Mary Cheh, along with five co-sponsors introduced ERASE Solitary, in an effort to abolish torture in DC’s jails and prisons.  The law uphold Mr. Mandela’s mission to ensure the humane treatment of our incarcerated brothers and sisters.

DC Corrections uses solitary confinement more than four times the national average- -making it a leader in the use the use of torture, as defined by the United Nations.

With the ERASE bill DC has the opportunity to become a different kind of leader- -a leader in transformative justice.  The bill will end the use of solitary confinement in DC, with exceptions for public safety.  Our next step? ERASE needs a hearing.

USE IT FOR JUSTICE

Join Councilmembers Mary Cheh, the ERASE Coalition and the United Nations in demanding a TORTURE FREE DC for all.

TRANSFORMING DC TOGETHER

Our Councilmembers have taken the first step.  Now it’s our turn to make an impact.  Our legislatures need to grant the bill a hearing- -and they need to hear why that’s important to you. 

Fill out the form to send a one-click email and/or tweet to your legislators.  Let them know that giving ERASE a hearing this fall is crucial to upholding Nelson Mandela’s vision of justice. 

SOLITARY MYTHS

SOLITARY IS
USED FOR
THE WORST
OF THE WORST
FALSE.
Solitary is primarily used for minor infractions like not following an order, or even having too many postage stamps or extra food.
[REF]
SOLITARY MAKES
INCARCERATION
THE WORST
MORE SAFE
FALSE.
People in solitary are deprived of meaningful human interaction and programs, causing additional drastic physical and psychological harm.
[REF]
THERE ARE
NO SAFE
ALTERNATIVES
TO SOLITARY
FALSE.
There are many safe and proven alternatives that could reduce violence, increase public safety, and cut incarceration costs.
[REF]

Dear DC Legislators,

You entered the political arena to make a difference in DC, right?  Here’s a chance to make a DC a leader in transformative justice and right a wrong. DC uses solitary confinement more than almost any other state in the US, making it a leader in torture- -and a human rights violator.  Torture is not the answer.

Passing ERASE gives us the ability to look towards evidence-based alternatives to isolation, providing exceptions for safety and public health emergencies.

The United Nations has said that prolonged solitary confinement is torture.  

DC jail lock downs have been among the longest in the US.   Let’s get this right.  There are other ways of applying consequences without destroying a person’s dignity, life.   With this one bill,  DC can go from being a leader in torture to a national leader in transformative justice. 

Let’s rewrite DC’s narrative together.


In Community,

The Erasers

COUNTDOWN TO ERASE HEARING

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Thank you Councilmember Cheh for introducing ERASE

Ward Three Councilmember Mary Cheh

ERASE Introducer

THANK YOU ERASE CO-SPONSORS

Chairman Pro Tempore Kenyan R. McDuffie

Co-Sponsor/Ward Five

At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds

ERASE Co-Sponsor

Ward One Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau

ERASE Co-Sponsor

Ward Four Councilmember Janeese Lewis George

ERASE Co-Sponsor

Ward Eight Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.

Erase Co-Sponsor

Let your voice be heard!  ERASE needs a hearing in the fall of 2022.  Email and tweet at the Councilmembers above, letting them know how important it is that ERASE and its supporters are heard.  We’ve made it easy to get in touch with these legislators- -just click on the email button and we do the rest.

ERASING MISTAKES FOR A BETTER DC

ERASE is a chance for DC to correct a mistake: solitary confinement should have never been an option in the first place.  With one bill, DC can become a leader in transformative justice. 

SUPPORT FOR ERASE

THE ERASERS

The ERASE Coalition is a group of transformative justice advocates working to make DC a safer, more free state.  If you’re interesting in learning more about social justice causes in and around Washington, D.C., engaging with these partners is a wonderful place to start.

ACLU- DC

Center for Disability Rights DC

Free Minds Book Club

National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens

Public Defender Service

Neighbors for Justice

Vera Institute of Justice

Interfaith Action for Human Rights

Harriet's Wildest Dreams

Squire Patton Boggs

DC Justice Lab

Washington Laywers' Committee

Buckley Sandler

Sidley

Council for Court Excellence

Howard Law

Stop Solitary for Kids

Children’s Center for Law and Policy

Formerly DOC

The Festival Center

Voices Unbarred

Justice Policy Institute

ERASE
SOLITARY

Erase
Torture

Erase
Solitary

Erase
Torture