Redemption as Public Safety

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.