News & Policy Updates
Explore the latest updates from ARC
ARC Partners with Proyecto PaMaRa at Valley State Prison
ARC joined forces with international artist Rauw Alejandro’s Proyecto PaMaRa and 1Community to welcome over 100 young incarcerated men into a day of dialogue, creative expression and spiritual reflection. Through group discussions, a friendly soccer match and a “Dream Wall” activity, participants were reminded of their potential to rebuild and thrive. Valley State Prison is one of the largest correctional facilities in California and one of the few actively supporting mentoring, emotional development, and the arts among its young population. This was the first collaboration of its kind between an artist of Rauw Alejandro’s caliber and a foundation focused on social transformation,[...]
Statement from ARC’s Board of Directors on Leadership Transition
Today, the Board of Directors of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition announces Sam Lewis’s decision to step down after six years as Executive Director and over 10 years with the organization, effective as of April 30, 2025. To ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition, Sam will continue working with ARC in a consulting role from May 1 through October 31, 2025. As Sam stated in his transition letter to the Board: “This decision—though not easy—is what’s best for my family and me at this time.” We respect Sam’s decision and extend our deepest gratitude to Sam for his visionary leadership and for his generous[...]
ARC Opens New Headquarters, The Hope and Redemption Center
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is proud to announce the grand opening of our new headquarters—the Hope and Redemption Center in Echo Park. This groundbreaking center is designed to support formerly incarcerated individuals as they rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities. At our grand opening, ARC’s Executive Director, Sam Lewis, shared our vision for the new space and how it will continue to redefine outcomes for formerly incarcerated people. State Senator María Elena Durazo, who helped secure funding for the center, spoke about the importance of investing in reentry services. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez welcomed ARC to the Echo Park neighborhood as[...]
ARC’s State Policy Priorities for 2025
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! Here are our 2025 sponsored bills: ACA 6: 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[...]
AB 247, Our Bill to Raise Wages for Incarcerated Hand Crew Members, Passes its First Committee!
AB 247, a bill to raise wages for our heroic hand crews, passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee! ARC member and formerly incarcerated firefighter Eduardo Herrera gave personal testimony to the committee about his experience and the need to fairly compensate incarcerated hand crew members. The bill will head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee next. We thank Asm. Bryan, for authoring this historic bill
An Update on Our Firefighter Fund
To date, ARC has raised more than $1.8 MILLION for our incarcerated firefighters!! With these funds, we have already provided immediate support. We are beginning to implement necessary infrastructure updates to our fire camps and scholarships for individuals wishing to pursue firefighting careers after release. Here are a few examples of where the funding has gone: Immediate needs: We served over 30 meals at the Rose Bowl and Holton Basecamps for nearly 500 incarcerated firefighters each. Thanks to Irv’s Burgers, Maple Block Meat Co, Jon and Vinny’s, Chef Jeff, Raising Cane’s, and many more for showing up to feed these heroes! Fire camp upgrades:[...]
ARC Introduces Bills to Raise Pay and Increase Expungement Opportunities for Fire Crew Members
During the LA Fires, California relied on the work and bravery of incarcerated fire crew members. Many people have learned more about Conversation Camp participants' work, the low pay, and the barriers to continuing firefighting after incarceration. Because of this, ARC has introduced AB 257, which will raise incarcerated fire crew pay amounts to reach the minimum wage of what a regular firefighter earns, and SB 245, which will expedite expungements for fire crew members so they can clear their records and open up more firefighting-related career opportunities. These two bills reflect their dignity and need for second chances. Stay tuned for information[...]
ARC’s Media Roundup on the LA Fires
During the LA Fires, the courageous incarcerated firefighters emerged as true heroes, bravely protecting homes and communities from destruction. Their stories of bravery and sacrifice inspired people from all over the country to learn more about their stories and this unique program. ARC's Executive Director, ARC member, and Ventura Training Center (VT) Alum Eddie Herrera, now an engineer with Cal Fire, were featured across many media outlets, highlighting ARC's work and telling the stories of these brave heroes and the importance of second chances . They highlighted the CDCR fire camp program, ARC's work to help forermly incarcerated firefighters obtain careers, and[...]
LA Care Supports ARC’s Hollywood CPR Dorm Program,
We are deeply grateful to LA Care for their generous support in funding our Hollywood CPR Dorm Program. Opened in February 2023, this transitional housing facility provides vital support to formerly incarcerated ARC Members who are enrolled full-time at West Los Angeles College in the Hollywood CPR Program. Hollywood CPR is a vocational training initiative that equips individuals with the skills and credentials needed to enter entertainment union trades. Thanks to LA Care’s partnership, we are able to provide housing, mentorship, and career placement services, helping our members achieve stability and success. Program Highlights: ARC Participants Enrolled in the Program: 25 Trainings[...]
ARC advocates featured on KCAL news, urging safer conditions for youth at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
The crisis at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall persists, where youth are left in unsafe conditions, inadequate supervision, and no access to education or programs. Yesterday, ARC members Adrain Garcia and Anthony Melendez spoke at the Board of Supervisors, and comments were featured on KCAL news. Youth deserve safe environments and access to meaningful programming opportunities—not neglect. Los Angeles County must commit to hiring sufficient staff, reducing overcrowding, and creating a plan to meet BSCC standards. Check out the video to learn more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjwe_IQ7S5g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv2V7D7K9iI
Our Thoughts On Last Night
The outcome of last night’s election has revived rhetoric and policies that seek to strip away rights from women, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and many marginalized groups, including incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. This agenda threatens the very fabric of our democracy, aiming to dismantle essential democratic values and the rights that protect us all. We believe in a society that treats everyone with fairness and equality and we must stand together now more than ever to defend those rights for our community and our loved ones. The passage of Prop 36 is a devastating blow to public safety in California, as it[...]
Sincerely with Sam Lewis Episode 3: Your Voice Your Vote
In this episode of Sincerely with Sam Lewis, Sam explores voting rights for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals with two impactful guests: Nicole Lewis from the Marshall Project and Jared Villery, ARC's Expungement Fellow. Nicole shares insights from her research surveying incarcerated people across the U.S. about their attitudes on voting and how they stay engaged with politics despite the obstacles they face Jared Villery shares his experience voting for the first time, highlighting how meaningful it is to use his voice to support Proposition 6 in California. This episode underscores the importance of voting rights for those affected by the justice[...]
Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s Prop 6 Efforts Featured in Huffington Post
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is in the spotlight as Huffington Post highlights its efforts to pass Proposition 6, which seeks to end forced labor in California prisons. The article features personal stories from ARC’s Chief Strategy Consultant, Esteban Nuñez, and Expungement Fellow, Jared Villery “You run the risk of either your health or your chances for your freedom. That’s the choice you make on a daily basis,” shared Villery, describing his experience working in prison despite a knee injury. Nuñez added, “Removing involuntary servitude really does allow folks to prioritize rehabilitation, which, in turn, will enhance public safety.” Read more here: Huffington[...]
Welcome Our Newest Board Member Shaka Senghour
ARC is pleased to welcome Shaka Senghour back to our ARC Family (not that he ever truly left!). Shaka is a highly recognized community and business leader, a fierce social justice advocate, and the NYT Best Selling author of “Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison.” He is also a longtime friend of ARC, having served as our Executive Director from April 2018 to June 2019. We couldn’t be more excited to have Shaka’s wealth of experience and expertise to help guide ARC into 2025 and beyond.
Read Nicholas Tirado’s Op-Ed on Prop 6 in Teen Vogue!
ARC’s viral sensation, Nicholas Tirado, wrote an inspiring op-ed in Teen Vogue, detailing how forced prison labor held him back and how Prop 6 could remove slavery from California’s Constitution, creating more rehabilitative opportunities for incarcerated people. He shares his journey of overcoming incarceration and how he has become a content creator, amplifying the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals. Nicholas writes, “Now California has a historic opportunity to end this cruel and racist practice. Proposition 6 will give voters the power to end forced labor inside state prisons and county jails and finally close this dark chapter in our state’s history.” Read[...]
ARC’s Sam Lewis Urges Voters to Reject Prop 36 and Support Prop 6 During Sacramento Bee Panel
Sacramento, CA — In a virtual panel discussion hosted by The Sacramento Bee, Sam Lewis, Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), urged California voters to reject Proposition 36, condemning it for its false promises and its potential to cut treatment and prevention programs while further entrenching mass incarceration and the war on drugs. During the debate, Lewis challenged Yolo District Attorney Jeff Reisig on the cost and motives behind Prop 36, the misleading narrative surrounding retail theft, and Proposition 47, which has saved California nearly $1 billion while creating access to drug treatment and crime prevention programs. The panel also addressed[...]
Sincerely with Sam Lewis: “Prop 6: End Modern Day Slavery!”
In this second episode of this season of Sincerely with Sam Lewis , Sam delves into Proposition 6, exploring the link between slavery and the exception clauses in both the California and U.S. Constitutions. The episode highlights how Proposition 6 aims to end slavery and create rehabilitative opportunities for incarcerated individuals in California. Sam was joined by a group of dynamic guests: Esteban Nuñez, ARC's Chief Strategist and Lobbyist leading the Yes on 6 campaign Celina Chapin, Chief Advocacy Officer from Worth Rises Thabile Makue, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer at Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition Prop 6 ambassadors: Sam Brown, Hung Nguyen,[...]
Check out ARC’s 2024 Voter Guide
With the 2024 election fast approaching, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is proud to release its 2024 Voter Guide. This election is pivotal for our country, with a new president on the ballot. In California, key criminal justice measures could either transform our system for the better or return us to an era of mass incarceration. As a reminder: YES on Prop 6 and NO on Prop 36. Beyond criminal justice, this ballot addresses critical issues like wages, education, housing, and more. This year also marks a historic milestone: formerly incarcerated individuals on parole have the right to vote in a general election[...]
ARC Staff Member Jared Villery Advocates for Yes on Proposition 6
ARC staff member Jared Villery was recently profiled on Spectrum News, where he shared powerful insights on the dehumanizing effects of forced labor within the prison system and its detrimental impact on rehabilitation. Jared has been advocating for Proposition 6, which is on the ballot this November, to end forced labor inside prisons, opening up more rehabilitative opportunities for individuals and allowing them to focus on education and personal growth. Jared, who served 21 years in prison, emphasized that mandatory work assignments hindered his educational and personal development. “I would have likely had my associate’s degrees three or four years sooner. I[...]
Labor, Civil Rights, and Elected Leaders Unite in Support of Prop 6 to End Forced Labor in California Prisons
Los Angeles, CA –Yesterday, a powerful rally was held in support of Proposition 6, bringing together a diverse group of elected representatives, labor leaders, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The event underscored the critical need to end forced labor in California's prisons and highlighted why this issue resonates with all Californians. Dominique Davis, an ARC member, shared a poignant testimony: "Fearful of write-ups and disciplinary actions that would extend my time, I accepted the assignment although it did not fit my rehabilitation needs." This statement captured the profound impact of forced labor on the lives of those within the prison system, emphasizing the[...]
ABC 7 Features ARC’s Hope and Redemption Team (HART) Graduation at Los Angeles County Prison
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is excited to share that ABC 7 recently featured the graduation ceremony of participants from our Hope and Redemption Team (HART) program at Los Angeles County Prison (LAC) in Lancaster, CA. This coverage highlights the powerful impact of ARC’s transformative work within California’s prisons, celebrating the accomplishments of individuals who have completed the 12-week HART program. The HART program, a 12-week initiative, equips incarcerated men and women with the tools necessary for personal growth, responsibility, and successful reintegration into society. Operating in nearly every prison across the state, the program has shown remarkable results, with participants 30% more[...]
Anti-Recidivism Coalition Announces the Relaunch of “Sincerely, with Sam Lewis” Podcast
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is excited to announce the relaunch of “Sincerely, with Sam Lewis,” the podcast hosted by ARC’s Executive Director, Sam Lewis. The first episode of the new season will air live on Wednesday, September 11, at 11 AM, across all ARC social platforms, including YouTube, X, and Instagram. In the first episode of the new season, Sam will delve into why voters should reject Prop 36, a dangerous ballot measure that threatens to undo the progress made by Prop 47. Prop 36 poses a major setback to safety and treatment, cutting funding from essential crime[...]
ARC’s Sponsored Legislation to Ensure Dignity and Care for Pregnant People in Prison Heads to Governor!
California Assembly Bill 2740, authored by Assemblymember Waldron, has successfully passed the state legislature and is now awaiting approval from Governor Newsom. AB 2740 provides comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care for pregnant individuals in prison. The bill also directs prison officials to connect pregnant individuals with social workers within a week and ensures expedited visitation for overnight stays with newborns. Tyrique Shipp, a Policy Fellow with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, highlighted the importance of the bill, stating, “A prison cell is no place for somebody who is pregnant or somebody after pregnancy—it’s not safe, it’s not clean. Our goal is to ensure we[...]
SAM LEWIS APPEARS ON ABC 7 SAN FRANCISCO TO DISCUSS OPPOSITION TO PROP 36
Sam Lewis, Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), appeared on ABC 7 San Francisco to discuss the importance of voting "No" on Proposition 36. Prop 36, which is up for a vote in November, aims to increase sentences for certain drug and theft crimes. During his appearance, Lewis emphasized the dangers associated with Prop 36, particularly its potential to reverse decades of progress in criminal justice reform and lead to more people experiencing homelessness and poverty being given harsher sentences for minor offenses. "Instead, we're trying to find faster ways to lock people up and go back to mass incarceration," Lewis[...]
Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s Ride Home Program Featured in NBCU Academy’s Latest Storytelling Series!
Los Angeles, CA — August 21, 2024 — NBCU Academy's new feature highlights the Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s (ARC) innovative Ride Home program and its impact on the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals transitioning back into society. ARC's Ride Home program offers more than just transportation for those recently released from California prisons and jails. The program addresses a critical gap between prison and the community by providing a ride, a first meal, a new outfit, a cellphone, and toiletries—key essentials to help people begin their reentry journey on the right foot. “You’re going to get the support, you’re going to get the resources,[...]
