South Carolina Second Look Network: A Platform for Change
- Rose Anna Welch
- Sep 26
- 3 min read
The South Carolina Second Look Network was created to bring together incarcerated leaders, their families, and outside supporters around one unifying goal: passing Second Look legislation in our state. This effort is rooted in the belief that people can change, that redemption should be recognized, and that South Carolina can provide a fair review mechanism for extreme sentences.
Mission Statement: The South Carolina Second Look Network was created to build a movement—starting from inside prison walls—to shift the paradigm on how we think about incarceration. The South Carolina Second Look Network was created to bring together incarcerated leaders, their families, and outside supporters around one unifying goal: passing Second Look legislation in our state. that recognizes the power of redemption, promotes justice through mercy, and increases pathways to freedom. Together, we strive to transform lives, influence policy, and build a safer and more compassionate South Carolina.
Second Look Defined: Legislation authorizing judges to review sentences after a person has served a lengthy period of time has been referred to as a second-look law and more colloquially as “sentence review.” (from The Sentencing Project’s Second Look Movement)
In less than a year, the Network has grown into a coordinated inside–outside movement.
1. Building an Informed Community
We launched an online landing page where families, advocates, and community members can learn about the campaign and join the movement. We also developed quarterly newsletters (issue 001, issue 002, and issue 003) for men and women inside, offering updates, encouragement, and ways to stay engaged. The newsletter has also become a tool for outside supporters to understand the realities of long sentences. To date, we have received more than 90 letters from incarcerated men and women expressing a desire to be part of this movement. These letters reflect the hunger for change and the wealth of leadership behind the prison walls.
2. Organizing Support Outside the Walls
We established monthly supporter meetings, facilitated by allies like Mrs. Tammy Standard and Mrs. Jackie Knight, where community members gather to coordinate, share ideas, and plan actions. So far, 50 outside supporters have committed to being part of the campaign. We have begun forging relationships with organizations such as:
3. Cultivating Leadership Inside
We now have inside representatives and contacts at 14 of South Carolina’s 21 prisons, including two women’s facilities. A few initiatives have already developed inside. Keno’s Way Home: A play written by inside leader Rashaad Thomas, highlights the need for Second Look legislation. A Letter to My Younger Self: A developing project where incarcerated men reflect on their past decisions to guide today’s youth. Storytelling Workshop: Designed by inside leader Benjamin Case, this workshop equips incarcerated people to tell their stories powerfully for advocacy, parole, and personal growth.
4. Legislative Engagement
Inside letter-writing campaigns have reached local representatives. Conversations are beginning with lawmakers willing to consider Second Look legislation as a viable solution to overcrowding, high costs, and the need for redemption. We created an outline for the context of what second look legislation might include, as a starting point for legislators to begin a conversation.
Inside members have also successfully connected with groups like FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) and the Prison Policy Initiative, both of which support Second Look efforts nationwide.
5. Shaping the Narrative
We are working to reframe the story of incarceration in South Carolina. Instead of focusing solely on punishment and retribution, we highlight transformation, responsibility, and second chances. Elevating the voices of incarcerated leaders demonstrates that people serving long sentences are capable of mentoring, teaching, and building stronger communities both inside and outside.
Next Steps
The SC Second Look Network has already taken important steps: building infrastructure, developing leadership, forging partnerships, and initiating legislative conversations. But our work has only begun.
The next stage will require:
• Expanding our supporter base and family engagement.
• Strengthening relationships with legislators across party lines.
• Continuing to lift up stories of transformation that show why Second Look is not only a matter of justice, but of hope.
South Carolina needs a recognized path to redemption. The SC Second Look Network will keep working until our state joins the growing national movement to create a fair sentencing review process. As the guys inside say, “We can all stand on freedom, let’s stand together!”
Thanks for sharing about this exciting inside-led organizing effort to get folks free!