Dear John,

Happy Second Chance Month! ARC leads many initiatives and programs to advance and secure second chances for our incarcerated brothers and sisters, including policy work at the local, state, and national levels. I am pleased to report that ARC has been ramping up our advocacy work, and over the last few weeks, we have been fighting for and defending several key justice reform bills by testifying in person and calling into California state legislative hearings. 

For context, in 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47. Prop 47 helped reduce overcrowding in our jails and prisons while saving the state almost half a billion dollars. Over $300 million went towards mental health, substance-use treatment, diversion, and housing programs for justice-involved people.

Over the past weeks, several misguided bills were introduced in the California Assembly and Senate that attempted to roll back and repeal Prop 47.

• SB 1108: This bill would have reinstated a provision of law that was repealed by Proposition 47 that provides that a person who has been convicted 3 or more times of petty theft, grand theft, or other specified crimes and who is subsequently convicted of petty theft is subject to imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in a county jail for 16 months or 2 or 3 years

• AB 1597: This bill would reinstate a provision of law that was repealed by Proposition 47 that provides that a person who has been convicted 3 or more times of petty theft, grand theft, or other specified crimes and who is subsequently convicted of petty theft is subject to imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in a county jail for 18 months or 2 or 3 years.

• AB 1599: This bill would repeal the changes and additions made by Proposition 47, except those related to reducing the penalty for possession of concentrated cannabis.

• AB 1603: This bill would amend Proposition 47 by reducing the threshold amount for petty theft and shoplifting from $950 to $400. 

ARC is on the front lines of defending criminal justice reform and telling personal stories on why increased penalties for crimes do not make us safer but have long-term negative impacts. I had the chance to speak to the legislature on behalf of formerly incarcerated people all over the state. You can watch my testimony by clicking HERE.

Every Tuesday for four of the last five weeks, formerly incarcerated staff and ARC Members from across the state called in to voice their opposition to these bills. This is personal for us, myself and many other ARC Members who served long prison terms because of legislation built on fear of rising crime. 

Because we mobilized in opposition, these bills were voted down and will no longer be moving forward. We thank other advocacy groups across California as well as the legislators who voted against these measures

We must take a stand to fight for criminal legal reform and educate people on why increased sentencing is not the answer to a rise in crime. The pandemic has put a strain on our communities, and we need more resources available to help people flourish and achieve their goals. ARC remains a model on how we can support our community with robust reentry resources and put people on a path towards success during and after prison. 

The work in California is far from over, and we will continue to defend our wins and pass legislation that works to undo the harms of mass incarceration.  

Sincerely,

Sam Lewis

Executive Director, ARC