Write a letter to the editor
Writing a letter to the editor is an effective way to help pass SB21-062. Easy instructions are below!
Find your local paper
Select your county in the link above to find your publication and check for specific submission requirements.
Compose your letter
State the problem
Why are you writing? Why do you support SB21-62? You could write about the harms of pretrial detention or the disproportionate impact on communities of color or how our jails are full of people accused of low-level crimes who pose no public safety risk. Check out our FAQS and read about SB21-062 to learn more.
Why are you personally concerned?
What makes you care about this issue? What makes it personal? For eg, are you a taxpayer concerned about the cost of keeping legally innocent people incarcerated pretrial in jail? Have you or your loved one had any experience with the criminal legal system and understand its flaws? Are you a survivor of crime who knows that jails are not the right response to all societal issues?
Describe the problem in a way that makes it more real for the reader.
Use facts and stories. For example, you could talk about the history of mass incarceration or the rapid overpopulation of our county jails or the real harms of pretrial detention with 20,000 kids growing up with a parent behind bars. Here are some personal stories we’ve gathered.
Why does this matter now?
Try to tie the importance of this issue to a current event. For example, you could talk about how COVID-19 has forced jail depopulation and shown us that we can safely hold fewer people in jail or the need to not return to a normal that was broken.
State the solution.
This is your call to action – you want your state senator and representative to vote in support of SB21-062.
Include your contact information
Write your full name, title (if relevant), address, phone number, and e-mail address.
Let us know you did it!
Let us know if you are writing a letter to the editor and we’ll follow up with an email asking if your letter was printed and how your legislator responded so we can better focus our efforts.
Tips for writing a letter to the editor
Make it your own – Even though you’re using a template, be sure to add something personal so it’s YOUR letter.
Keep it short – Most papers have a 150 to 250 word limit and readers are more likely to focus on short, to-the-point letters than long wordy ones. State what you are writing about, include at most three points in support of your position and then end with a call to action for your state senator and representative.
Name names – If you are trying to influence a decision maker be sure to include their name in your letter. This will make it more likely that they will read your letter. For example, if you’re Senator Joann Ginal’s constituent, end your letter by asking her to support SB62. You can find your state senator and representative at the link below.
Pick One Issue – You likely have many reasons for supporting depopulation, but you only have 250 words to tell your side of the story. Pick just one reason why you support SB21-62 and focus on that. Some reasons you might support SB21-62 include: Racial justice and the disproportionate harms of the criminal legal system on people of color, the legacy of mass incarceration and that too many people remain in jails, the cost of incarcerating so many people, or why incarcerating legally innocent people unable to afford bond is wrong.
Send the letter to your legislator – If your letter is printed, make sure to email a copy of the letter printed online or send a copy of the letter printed in the newspaper to your legislator so they see that you care about this issue and took the time to write in. Find them here