1. United States
2. Hawaii
3. Letter

This Legislation session I would implore you all to focus on restorative justice practices in our state prisons. I would like to see policies such as the elimination of paid bail, getting rid of life sentences, more educational/financial literacy/career advancement classes, the end of solitary confinement, and course more access to healthcare and mental health services. I would like you to use Halden Prison in Norway as an example as well as North Dakota who has partnered with MILPA and the Vera Institute of Justice to cut recidivism down. And once the session is over I hope that you all take the time to visit both facilities for yourself to get a better understanding of how they work. The people behind bars are so easily seen as sub-human, that they deserve to be locked up and forgotten. But they are people who deserve dignity and respect just like the rest of us, they just need help and a chance to learn from their mistakes. I hope you have the chance to give that to them .