The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social Justice and United States Policy presented its Report #24 on Resolution D008 (Resolution to Address the Issue of Mass Incarceration) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D008)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church (TEC) urge Congress and the states: (i). to eliminate incarceration for lower-level crimes; (ii). to pass legislation that would make default prison sentences — which are often excessively long — proportional to the specific crimes committed; and (iii) to use the power of their purses to encourage these changes; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention of TEC again urge Congress to initiate studies to examine racial and gender disparities in sentencing, including racial and gender disparities in prosecutors’ exercise of discretion in seeking sentencing enhancements under three-strikes, Section 851 federal drug enhancements, and other habitual offender laws and disparate racial and gender effects of drug policies such as mandatory minimum sentences and school zone drug enhancements; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention again urge state and federal governments to adopt legislation whereby all arrests and/or convictions for non- violent summary or misdemeanor offenses committed more than ten years ago are automatically sealed from access by prospective employers, landlords, and all others except law enforcement, noting that the young and people of color are disproportionately affected by this form of discrimination; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention direct, consistent with established policies and procedures, that the Executive Council refer this Resolution to the Office of Government Relations, so that it may take all actions necessary to accomplish the intentions and purposes of this Resolution.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church (TEC) urge Congress and the states: (i). to eliminate reduce the use of incarceration for lower-level crimes; (ii). to pass legislation that would make default prison sentences — which are often excessively long — proportional to the specific crimes committed; and (iii) to use the power of their purses to encourage these changes; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention of TEC again urge Congress to initiate studies to examine racial and gender disparities in sentencing, including racial and gender disparities in prosecutors’ exercise of discretion in seeking sentencing enhancements under three-strikes, Section 851 federal drug enhancements, and other habitual offender laws and disparate racial and gender effects of drug policies such as mandatory minimum sentences and school zone drug enhancements; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention again urge state and federal governments to adopt legislation whereby all arrests and/or convictions for non- violent summary or misdemeanor offenses committed more than ten years ago are automatically sealed from access by prospective employers, landlords, and all others except law enforcement, noting that the young and people of color are disproportionately affected by this form of discrimination; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention direct, consistent with established policies and procedures, that the Executive Council refer this Resolution to the Office of Government Relations, so that it may take all actions necessary to accomplish the intentions and purposes of this Resolution.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #29)