Doug Baldwin, Roger Goodell co-author letter in support of criminal justice reform bill

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have co-signed a letter to Congress in support of a criminal justice reform bill.

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The letter outlines its support for S. 1917, named the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, a bipartisan bill which aims to reduce enhanced mandatory sentencing for certain drug crimes and nonviolent offenders, limit solidarity confinement for juveniles, and add minimum sentencing for interstate domestic violence crimes, among other protections.

A portion of the letter reads as follows:

“Over the last two seasons, one particular issue that has come to the forefront for our players and our teams is the issue of justice for all. Last season, as part of our My Cause My Cleats initiative, several players chose to highlights equality and justice on their cleats, while others chose causes related to supporting the difficult work of law enforcement. These expressions of player advocacy aptly capture the challenges we currently face as a nation — ensuring that every American has equal rights and equal protection under the law, while simultaneously ensuring that all law enforcement personnel have the proper resources, tools, and training and are treated with honor and respect.

“We are very proud of our players and our owners who have done the hard work over the past year to listen, understand, and attempt to address the underlying issues within our communities. The bottom line is, that we all want to make our communities better….

The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act would address many of the issues on which our players have worked to raise awareness of over the last two seasons. This bill seeks to improve public safety, increase rehabilitation, and strengthen families. If enacted, it would be a positive next step in our collective efforts to move our nation forward.”