Events

	Last hidden column for tag filter
26 Sep. 2026 2026 "Smoked, Oaked and Stoked" to End Polio Now! Sep. 26, 2026 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
30 Sep. 2026 Dan Fetsco, UW Law Professor Redemption as Public Safety Sep. 30, 2026 Redemption as Public Safety: Reforming Sentencing Through Evidence and Restorative Justice The American sentencing system often fails to achieve its stated goals of accountability, rehabilitation, and public safety. Mandatory minimums, overly long sentences, and limited opportunities for review frequently overlook human development, misjudge risk, and ignore the strong evidence supporting transformation over pure punishment. This session brings together a criminology professor from the University of Wyoming, Dan Fetsco, and two system-impacted practitioners, Mark Corbett and Tommy Rivera, who both served decades under an extreme sentence before release, despite many years of extraordinary development while incarcerated. Drawing from research and lived experience, we examine how sentencing practices can unintentionally harm communities, fail victims, and undermine long-term safety. We argue that redemption is not a moral luxury but an evidence-based public- safety strategy supported by desistance research, restorative justice outcomes, and decades of recidivism data. The presentation outlines practical reforms—including periodic sentence reviews, individualized assessments, and restorative frameworks—that correct past injustices and create a more effective sentencing model. We offer a path toward justice that strengthens communities by recognizing accountability, growth, and the possibility of change.

Sep.

2026

2026 "Smoked, Oaked and Stoked" to End Polio Now!

Sep. 26, 2026 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Sep.

2026

Dan Fetsco, UW Law Professor

Redemption as Public Safety

Sep. 30, 2026

Redemption as Public Safety: Reforming Sentencing Through Evidence and
Restorative Justice
The American sentencing system often fails to achieve its stated goals of
accountability, rehabilitation, and public safety. Mandatory minimums, overly long
sentences, and limited opportunities for review frequently overlook human
development, misjudge risk, and ignore the strong evidence supporting
transformation over pure punishment. This session brings together a criminology
professor from the University of Wyoming, Dan Fetsco, and two system-impacted
practitioners, Mark Corbett and Tommy Rivera, who both served decades under
an extreme sentence before release, despite many years of extraordinary
development while incarcerated. Drawing from research and lived experience,
we examine how sentencing practices can unintentionally harm communities, fail
victims, and undermine long-term safety.
We argue that redemption is not a moral luxury but an evidence-based public-
safety strategy supported by desistance research, restorative justice outcomes,
and decades of recidivism data. The presentation outlines practical
reforms—including periodic sentence reviews, individualized assessments, and
restorative frameworks—that correct past injustices and create a more effective
sentencing model. We offer a path toward justice that strengthens communities
by recognizing accountability, growth, and the possibility of change.

Event Types

Redemption as Public Safety