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Failing to Protect: Oklahoma’s Child Abuse and Neglect Statute Unfairly Punishes Mothers and Endangers Children

Turning the Tide on Mass Incarceration

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<td class="m_615460996386701855column m_615460996386701855scale m_615460996386701855stack" align="center" valign="top"><strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. – FWD.us Executive Director Zoë Towns issued the following statement today after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp held a bill signing for HB 582, the Georgia Survivor Justice Act:</strong></p>
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<td class="m_615460996386701855text_content-cell m_615460996386701855content-padding-horizontal" align="left" valign="top">“Georgia’s Survivor Justice Act is one more example in a long line of criminal justice reforms with bipartisan support across red, blue, and purple states. This bill shows what is possible when policymakers come together in support of evidence, mercy and justice. We thank Governor Kemp and urge lawmakers across the country to continue to support second chance sentencing that safely reduces incarceration and advances public safety.”</p>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/domestic-violence-survivors-sentencing-georgia-c0b7348001967217dcaaa4502320f3b1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The legislation</a>, which passed with <a href="https://legiscan.com/GA/votes/HB582/2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">near unanimous votes in both chambers</a> in the Georgia legislature, was sponsored by Republicans and strongly supported by both parties, and will be enacted into law on July 1st, 2025.</p>
<p>The law gives judges and prosecutors the ability to reexamine and reduce unnecessarily harsh sentences for people who have been convicted of crimes related to their abuse. At the ceremony with the Governor were state officials and advocates from across the country, including FWD.us.</p>
<p>Sponsored by Republican House Judiciary Committee Chair Stan Gunter, the “Survivor Justice Act” provides survivors of domestic violence increased opportunities to argue that they acted in self-defense, fairer sentences if they are convicted of a crime related to their abuse, and the ability to apply for a sentence reduction if they are currently serving time in prison. Oklahoma recently signed similar reforms into law, and Georgia now joins the state in prioritizing second chances, protecting survivors, and enhancing public safety. This bill will have a profound impact on families who have already been torn apart by long sentences by allowing people currently serving sentences to come home earlier, including many women currently serving life sentences.</p>
<p>FWD.us, whose recent polling found that <a href="https://www.fwd.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/FWD.us-Georgia-Polling-Memo.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">75% of Georgia voters agreed</a> it’s important to lower the jail and prison population, and 66% of Republicans support criminal justice reform, worked on the ground in Georgia with the <a href="https://gcadv.org/sji/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Survivor Justice Initiative</a> and other advocates to educate lawmakers on the merits of the law and worked to ensure passage as well as signing from Governor Kemp.</p>
<p>Thousands of people across the country are serving extreme sentences for crimes they committed protecting themselves or others. Statistics show that an astounding 74% to 95% of women in prison have experienced domestic or sexual violence, and of about 200 documented cases of domestic survivors who are currently in prison in Georgia, over half are serving a life sentence or virtual life sentence.</td>
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Governor Kemp Signs “Survivor Justice Act” to Support Survivors of Domestic Abuse

<p><strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. – FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement after the wrongful deportation of Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was discussed in today’s Oval Office meeting between President Trump and President Bukele from El Salvador:</strong></p>
<p>“This should not be controversial. Today’s remarks are a painful reminder of why due process protections must be upheld before any government takes actions with such far-reaching and extraordinarily harmful consequences.</p>
<p>“The U.S. government should not be in the business of disappearing people or using the Alien Enemies Act—regardless of immigration status. The stakes are incredibly high and consequential for all of us. The Supreme Court has already weighed in to ensure due process for anyone subjected to this wartime authority. Our elected leaders in Congress must also be loud and unequivocal in standing with the highest court and in demanding that U.S. taxpayer dollars are no longer used to enforce prohibited deportations or to obstruct efforts to bring people like Mr. Garcia home.”</p>


FWD.us Statement on Today’s Remarks Regarding the Wrongful Deportation of Maryland Father

Birthright Citizenship: Policy Brief

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<p>WASHINGTON, D.C. – FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement today after Representatives Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) led a group of nearly 200 members of the House of Representatives in reintroducing the Dream and Promise Act. If passed, this legislation would provide eligible DACA recipients, Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED recipients with access to an earned pathway to citizenship: </p>
<p>“All Americans will be better off if people with DACA and TPS can more fully contribute to our country through an earned path to citizenship. </p>
<p>“DACA recipients came to this country at the average age of six years old and have built their lives here for over a quarter century on average. Dreamers have been waiting for most of their lives to be granted permanent protections to stay in the only country they know as home. TPS recipients – who are business owners, essential workers, and valued neighbors contributing more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy annually – deserve the stability and opportunity that only permanent legal status can provide.  </p>
<p>“The Dream and Promise Act delivers exactly that. This is the type of commonsense solution backed by a strong majority of Americans, business leaders, and communities across the country. </p>
<p>“We thank the members of Congress leading this bill for taking this important step. With the Dream and Promise Act pending before Congress, we urge the Trump administration to keep these programs in place, as Republicans and Democrats have a new and clear opportunity to pass legislation that delivers permanent protections for Dreamers and TPS recipients — benefiting them and Americans alike.”</p>


Governor Kemp Signs “Survivor Justice Act” to Support Survivors of Domestic Abuse

FWD.us Statement on Today’s Remarks Regarding the Wrongful Deportation of Maryland Father

Birthright Citizenship: Policy Brief

Turning the Tide on Mass Incarceration

FWD.us Statement on Supreme Court Hearing Regarding Birthright Citizenship

Governor Kemp Signs “Survivor Justice Act” to Support Survivors of Domestic Abuse

Knowing Your Rights in the Workplace

Birthright Citizenship: Policy Brief

Turning the Tide on Mass Incarceration

Failing to Protect: Oklahoma’s Child Abuse and Neglect Statute Unfairly Punishes Mothers...

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