Empowering Change: Drop LWOP’s Mission to End Life Without Parole Sentencing
By Emme Rackham, CSW|Streisand Student Worker and Drop LWOP Organizer
Imagine being sentenced to spend the rest of your life in prison, with no chance of ever walking free again. This is the reality for over 5000 individuals in California serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentences.
According to a 2023 report by The University of California Sentencing Project and UCLA Center for the Study of Women|Barbra Streisand Center, “Maximizing Time, Maximizing Punishment: The Lived Experience of Long-Term Sentences in California Women’s Prisons,” California ranks third in the nation in the number of people serving LWOP with many facing what many refer to as a “living death” sentence or “death by incarceration.”
But there’s a coalition dedicated to changing this: Drop LWOP.
Drop LWOP works to end LWOP sentencing in California. Striving to afford relief to those who have and are currently serving this sentence, Drop LWOP fights for legislative change, commutations, pardons, resentencing, and public awareness about the injustices of LWOP sentences. Dozens of community organizations are a part of this California coalition, including ACLU California and the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.
The coalition is making significant strides in its advocacy efforts with the support of passionate individuals like Emme Rackham, a student worker at the UCLA Center for the Study of Women|Barbra Streisand Center and an organizer with Drop LWOP. Emme focuses on the outreach and media committees, actively working to engage the community and center the voices of justice system-impacted individuals in the movement. Drop LWOP’s advocacy relies on the expertise of currently and formerly incarcerated people
One of the key initiatives driving change is the Special Circumstances Conviction Project (SCCP), established by the CSW|Barbra Streisand Center in collaboration with the Felony Murder Elimination Project. This groundbreaking project aims to address the lack of information on specific convictions leading to LWOP sentencing. By collecting thousands of conviction records and analyzing the impact of California’s special circumstance law, SCCP seeks to enhance public knowledge and encourage academic research on the criminal legal system.
A 2023 report from SCCP and the CSW|Streisand Center, “Life Without Parole and Felony Murder Sentencing in California,” sheds light on the disproportionate sentencing outcomes against certain communities, particularly Black and Brown youth. Factors such as race, age, and gender play a disturbing role in sentencing outcomes, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
One such reform effort is Senate Bill 94 (SB 94), championed by the Drop LWOP Coalition. If passed, SB 94 would allow individuals who have served at least 25 years under LWOP or the death penalty, for offenses committed before June 5, 1990, to petition the court for judicial review. This would permit consideration of mitigating factors such as intimate partner violence, childhood trauma, mental illness, and rehabilitative achievements. Drop LWOP encourages people to reach out if they want to advocate for legislation to their California Assembly members.
As part of their advocacy, Drop LWOP urges community members to support SB 94 by writing letters of endorsement to Senator Dave Cortese. This collective action is vital in amplifying the voices of those impacted by LWOP sentencing and pushing for legislative change.
Beyond legislative advocacy, Drop LWOP is also making waves on the international stage. In 2022, the coalition, along with other organizations, submitted a complaint to United Nations independent experts challenging the United States policy and practice of condemning people to death by incarceration. This global recognition underscores the urgency of their mission and the need for widespread reform.
In the fight against LWOP sentencing, every voice matters. By supporting Drop LWOP’s efforts, we can work toward a more just and equitable criminal legal system, where individuals are given the opportunity for redemption and rehabilitation. Together, we can make a difference and bring about meaningful change.
Emme Rackham is a graduating UCLA student pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies. She is a student worker at the UCLA Center for the Study of Women and an organizer with Drop LWOP. Drop LWOP is always looking to get more people involved in their work.
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