Hillary Blout, once a prosecutor in San Francisco, now leads a transformative effort through For The People, a nonprofit she founded. Her mission: to review sentences and facilitate the release of formerly incarcerated individuals.
From Prosecutor to Advocate
After six years as a prosecutor, Blout redirected her career towards advocacy. Inspired by a conversation with a Black prosecutor from Mississippi and Vice President Kamala Harris, she realized the potential for change within the justice system.
“I wanted to create change from a policy perspective,” Blout reflected. Her journey led her to establish the nation’s first prosecutor-initiated resentencing clinic at UC Davis Law School.
Championing Resentencing Reform
In 2018, Blout spearheaded AB 2942, pioneering the Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing law. This legislation allows prosecutors to review past sentences and advocate for reduced terms, impacting five states to date.
Blout’s efforts under For The People’s “Together Home” campaign have already resulted in nearly 1,000 individuals being resentenced, aiming to mitigate the challenges faced by incarcerated women.
Future Initiatives and Impact
Blout remains committed to expanding resentencing laws nationwide, emphasizing the role of prosecutors in promoting public safety by facilitating reintegration into communities.
“We have a lot of work ahead to ensure no one remains incarcerated when they can contribute positively to society,” Blout emphasized.
