Advocacy Priorities

ARC’s Legislative Priorities (2025-2026)

History

Since 2012, ARC’s advocacy department has been at the forefront of changing California’s criminal and juvenile justice landscape, with over 35 landmark law changes such as SB 260, SB 261, AB 1308, and SB 1391, ballot measures including Prop 57, Prop 17, and numerous measures at the local level in Los Angeles County.

About the Program

Our members are at the forefront of advocating for these changes, helping to educate elected officials, and speaking to different government committees and the public about the need to change the narrative around criminal justice. ARC’s advocacy work allows formerly incarcerated people to tell their stories, resilience, hope, and desire to move their lives forward while overcoming their hardships and trauma. ARC holds advocacy training and listening sessions to inform our members about the legislative process and how to use their voices to advocate for change and learn about current criminal justice issues at the local and state levels.

How To Join: Be an ARC member and attend a policy training at the LA or Sacramento Office.

We’re thrilled to announce our state policy priorities for 2025! Our legislation brings hope to our incarcerated community, including those serving LWOP, higher wages for our heroic incarcerated handcrews, expands expungement opportunities for formerly incarcerated firefighters, renews the fight to end slavery in California, and much more! See our full list of bills below!

State Sponsored Priorities

ACA 6 (Wilson) : The End Slavery in CA Act

This Constitutional Amendment will seek to amend the state constitution to prohibit slavery in all forms. If ACA 6 passes, it will create a ballot measure for November 2026, where voters will have the power to end forced prison labor and slavery in CA

Status: ACA 6 was introduced in the CA Assembly

AB 247 (Bryan) : Fair Wages For Incarcerated Handcrews

AB 247 will raise the hourly wages for incarcerated handcrews. AB 247 is a historic step towards fair pay for our heroic handcrew participants

Status: This bill passed the Assembly Public Safety Comittee and will next go to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 245 (Reyes) : Firecamps Expungements

SB 245 builds upon AB 2147 and increases expungement opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals who have participated in fire camps

Status: This bill was introduced in the CA Senate.

AB 923 (Silva-Quirk) : California Women’s Care Act

AB 923 would allow pregnant or postpartum women to file a request to apply for diversion from county jails

Status: The bill was introduced in the CA Assembly.

AB 952 (Elhawary): Youth Offender Program Fire Camp

AB 952 aims to make the Youth Offender Fire Camp Eligibility Pilot Program permanent, ensuring that young people convicted of crimes before age 25 can continue accessing rehabilitative opportunities through supervised fire suppression training and valuable career pathways in firefighting.

Status: This bill was introduced in the CA Assembly

SB 672 (Rubio) : The Youth Rehabilitation and Opportunity Act

SB 672 will allow individuals sentenced to LWOP who were 18 to 25 at the time of their conviction to have a parole hearing after 25 years of incarceration.

Status: The bill was introduced in the Senate

SB 562 (Ashby) : Bail Reform

SB 562 would require the court to order a return of money or property paid to a bail bond licensee by or on behalf of the arrestee to obtain bail if the court’s disposition of the arrest results in no charges being filed

Status: This bill was introduced in CA Senate.

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Rose Brown

In my journey inside, nothing could really prepare me for what was to come. Everyone’s journey is different & I’ve learned these basic things in my re-entry and transition:Be patient (Especially with yourself), don’t compare yourself to others (Your path is yours alone), and continue climbing the mountain (Obstacles will come, just keep climbing). Being in the trenches of re-entry & working with an organization that focuses on re-entry made me realize what my purpose really is-to give back. Surviving Board, paroling, discharging from parole…I’ve climbed that mountain. My focus today is to make a positive difference to the community I’ve harmed and the inside community I’ve left behind.

J’Mel Carter

There were so many things that contributed to me making the poor choice to live a criminal and gang lifestyle. I don’t mention these facts to justify my despicable actions. With the help of good men and women and through education and hard work, I was able to change and transform the person I was into the person I was meant to be.

Pamela Thompson

When I was sentenced to 33 years to life under the third strike law, I thought my life was over and lost hope. 17 years into sentence, I got tired of feeling hopeless and decided to start attending self-help groups. Soon enough, I was the one leading them. After serving 24 years I was resentenced and released under 1170 (d)(1). I am now enjoying my freedom by giving back to my community through the work with ARC and different local organizations. As a life coach, I help ARC Members by lending my lived experiences to help guide and mentor them as they navigate their own reentry journey.

Rodney Bryant

Understanding all that CA offered me a chance to start fresh; however, I soon realized that even though the landscape changed, those old childhood issues still persisted. In 1990 I found myself making impulsive & irrational decisions whenever stressed. That year, I was sentenced to serve an indeterminate term of 15 years-to-Life. I spent more than 28 years of my life in correctional facilities; however, with hard work, persistence, & divine intervention my life was transformed. I spent a considerable amount of time on self-improvement, earning a High School Diploma, various vocational trades, and self-help certifications. Wanting to help make a difference, I became a Peer Literacy Tutor, Recreational Coach, and Youth Mentor, as I continued to seek self-help through self-improvement.

Angel Zubiate

It had been a rocky experience each time that an employer would ask “why are you being tracked like an animal?” Or the confused public eye that would question the same thing. My inability to swim in a pool or beach with family, friends, and loved ones because the monitor would glitch causing for my parole officer to panic that a registered gang member was on the loose. Now that I am completely free to travel and swim, work where I choose, wear shorts in the summer with out feeling judged, I could tell you that today I am as blessed as can be.

Jose Santana

US Forestry Service Fireman

I’m doing fire work now because it has given me self confidence and self worth that I feel I used to lack. Nowadays I hold my head up high and take pride in everything I do because what I do has value that I truly appreciate. I’m no longer hurting the community, I’m giving back to it. I’m constantly humbled when I see my friends, family and strangers and they thank me for my service. I get a bit embarrassed by it to be honest.