We’re at a tipping point, John.

Everything we have fought for is on the line. People are marching in the streets, putting their lives at risk to call for racial justice and equity all across the country. There is an awakening happening, from coast to coast. We have to fight to make sure we emerge from this crisis #BetterThanBefore. 

There is an opportunity to do just that – right now – and make progress on an issue in California that is deeply personal to me. I’m asking for your help, right now.

I spent my 17th birthday being transported on a bus to one of California’s most dangerous prisons. A kid, with my whole life in front of me, sentenced to life in prison. Many years later, I earned my release, thanks to a change in California law. But when I got out, I faced huge barriers. The transition from prison to society was tough, but there was one thing that really bothered me.

I was released from a life sentence in prison, but then placed on “lifetime parole.” That meant harsh restrictions on my freedom, imposed by the parole system, potentially for the rest of my life. I couldn’t travel more than 50 miles, I was subject to random house-calls and searches, and at any point if I messed up, even for something minor, I could be sent back to prison.

I earned my Bachelor's Degree, got my first few jobs helping other people getting out of prison. But no matter how well I did, I felt like I was right on the brink.

A few years ago, I committed to changing that system. Parole should be a steady hand to hold as people make the wobbly transition from prison to community. It shouldn’t be a trapdoor to failure. Or a hammer the state can use against people of color like me.

The fact is, we have too many people on parole in California. The system isn’t doing nearly enough to help them. And we’re wasting scarce resources on the wrong things.

I’ve spent the last three years working with an amazing community of organizations and impacted leaders across the state of California to get to this point.

We are SO CLOSE to changing a broken and outdated parole system. You can help us get even closer by signing this petition.

Last week, a bill we have been supporting, AB 2342, cleared one of its biggest hurdles. AB 2342 passed out of committee with just enough votes to move on to the next step in the legislative process: going to the Assembly floor for a vote.

This bill is going to need all the support it can get to move through this next big challenge, and the more support we can show for it, the higher its chances of passing.

We’ll need 41 votes to pass this hurdle. Even if you don’t live in California, you can help drive support to this bill by circulating its petition to people you know in the state. Will you help by signing and sharing?

Here’s how AB 2342 would change parole:

• By shifting parole from punitive based to goal-oriented supervision.
• By creating a credit-earning program that reduces the length of parole and incentivizes success through education, vocational training programs, apprenticeship programs, rehabilitative programs, and/or volunteer service.
• By allowing students and employees on parole to travel beyond the limited travel radius for the purposes of commuting to and from work. 

AB 2342 would help reduce crime, incarceration, and recidivism in California by ensuring that people on parole are recognized as they acquire the skills and education needed to help them make a positive impact on their community. 

Now that’s what a criminal justice system #BetterThanBefore looks like. We hope you’ll help get us there, John. 

- Michael Mendoza & the Dream Corps #cut50 team

PS: Want to learn more about how Dream Corps is rebuilding America #BetterThanBefore? Read this blog post by our CEO, Nisha Anand.