• US/California: Improve Proportionality in Drug Sentencing
    Human Rights Watch wrote to the California Senate Public Safety Committee in support of SB 649, which would grant prosecutors the discretion to charge individuals arrested for simple possession of illicit drugs with a misdemeanor rather than a felony, as well as give judges the ability to reduce a felony simple possession charge to a misdemeanor at the time of conviction.
    Apr 11, 2013
  • Florida: End Life Without Parole for Youth Offenders
    Human Rights Watch urged the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee to oppose Senate Bill (SB) 1350, Criminal Penalties. HRW believes that this bill is in violation of international human rights law.
    Apr 5, 2013
  • Letter to Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Examine Incarceration of Youth in US Adult Prisons and Jails
    Human Rights Watch submitted an expert letter on the incarceration of youth offenders in adult prisons in the United States. We commend the commission for holding a hearing on this issue and engaging in a productive dialogue with the United States on this topic of grave importance to the human rights of children.
    Mar 11, 2013
  • US/Pennsylvania: Don't Codify Excessive Sentences for Children
    Human Rights Watch writes to urge Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett to veto Senate Bill 850, which would maintain life without parole sentences as an option for child offenders. The bill would codify excessive sentences for children that are inconsistent with international human rights law to which all US states are bound.
    Oct 19, 2012
  • US/Pennsylvania: Commute Terrance Williams' Death Sentence
    Human Rights Watch wrote to Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor and board of pardons, urging them to commute the death sentence of Terrance Williams. Williams was 18 years old at the time of his crime. In addition, juries in Pennsylvania are not informed that the alternative to the death sentence is a life without parole sentence (and that life with parole is not an option).
    Sep 10, 2012
  • Montana: Commute the Death Sentence of Ronald Smith
    Human Rights Watch wrote to Montana's governor and Board of Pardons and Parole, urging them to commute the sentence of Ronald Smith, a Canadian Citizen on death row in Montana.
    Mar 8, 2012
  • Illinois: Proposed Closure of Tamms Supermax a Step in the Right Direction
    Human Rights Watch wrote to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to express support for his proposal to close the Tamms Correctional Center. We also sent similar letters to Illinois state legislators on the relevant appropriations committees and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
    Mar 8, 2012
  • Alabama: Prevent Execution of Thomas Arthur
    Human Rights Watch urges Governor Robert Bentley to prevent the execution of Thomas Arthur. Alabama simply should not tolerate the risk that one of its citizens will be executed for a crime he or she did not commit.
    Feb 28, 2012
  • Written Testimony for Hearing on Prostitution-Free Zone Amendment Act of 2011
    Jan 19, 2012
  • US: Pennsylvania – Don’t Include Juveniles in Sex Offender Registry
    Human Rights Watch is concerned about the impact of House Bill 1958 on Pennsylvania children adjudicated delinquent or found guilty of sex offenses, in particular language that would require youthful offenders to participate in the registration and notification requirements under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) of the Adam Walsh Act (AWA).
    Dec 1, 2011