opinion
THE NEXT FIRST STEP
Under the Biden administration, the number of people incarcerated in federal prisons has risen after years of decline. Congress can step up where the president has failed.
Bill Underwood is a senior fellow at The Sentencing Project for the Campaign to End Life Imprisonment. In January 2021, he received a compassionate release from federal prison after serving 33 years on a life sentence. With zero infractions during his over three decades of incarceration, Underwood was the inspiration for Sen. Booker and Rep. Bass’s Second Look Act as recognition for his dedication and commitment to rehabilitating his life, unwavering love and devotion to his children and grandchildren, and continuous efforts to create a culture of responsibility in his prison community, despite the hopelessness of his life without parole sentence. Prior to his arrest, he held a successful career as a prominent music promoter, manager, and music business publisher for some of the top R&B, pop, and jazz artists in the world.