News & Policy Updates
Explore the latest updates from ARC
Meet ARC’s New Interim Executive Director!
We are pleased to announce that Rob Woronoff has joined the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) as our Interim Executive Director, while we search for someone to lead our next chapter! Rob brings over 30 years of leadership experience working with and on behalf of youth, families, and justice-impacted communities. Most recently, he served as Interim Executive Director of the California Youth Connection (CYC), and previously led Sanctuary Palm Springs, a housing program for transition-age foster youth His career spans national leadership roles at the Child Welfare League of America, directing PREA implementation projects with Just Detention International, and leading the Probation Training Program[...]
SB 672 is Alive and Well!
We are writing to provide an important update regarding SB 672—a bill that has brought us closer than ever to recognizing the humanity and potential for growth in those aged 18 to under 26 at the time of their offense. The leadership of the bill (Senator Rubio, The National LWOP Leadership Council, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Human Rights Watch, Latino Justice, and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law Post-Conviction Justice Project) has made the strategic decision to pause movement on the bill until January of 2026. This gives us time to preserve the original intent of the bill, counter misinformation,[...]
ARC’s Statement in Solidarity with our Immigrant Community
We are heartbroken by the disturbing display of force used against so many of our community members this weekend, not to mention the increase in ICE presence and raids that preceded it. As a reentry organization helping people with conviction histories, we were not surprised by the early rhetoric targeting our community first. It’s the first step in an all-too-familiar playbook to normalize the overuse of force under the guise of “removing criminals.” Sadly, recent events in Los Angeles have shown us how this playbook always unfolds. We are deeply alarmed by reports of raids on student graduations and various workplaces, targeting[...]
Young Adult LWOP Bill Passes the CA Senate!
SB 672, the Youth Rehabilitation and Opportunity Act, authored by Senator Rubio, has officially passed the California Senate! This bill provides a second chance to individuals who were 25 years old or younger at the time of a crime that resulted in a life without parole (LWOP) sentence. Under SB 672, they would be eligible for a Youth Offender Parole hearing after serving 25 years. SB 672 has earned broad support from criminal justice advocates, crime survivors, human rights organizations, faith leaders, and labor unions across the state. We are grateful to the Senators who voted in favor of this important legislation.[...]
Escaping Alcatraz: How the California Model Is Closing Prisons and Rethinking Mass Incarceration
Escaping Alcatraz: How the California Model Is Closing Prisons and Rethinking Mass Incarceration President Trump recently remarked that he’d like to reopen Alcatraz Prison as a “symbol of law, order, and justice,” reviving a literal museum of America’s carceral past. While it’s wise not to seize on this administration’s every off-handed remark, and to recognize the many logistical impossibilities here, it is the symbolism we cannot ignore: a return to the failed belief that warehousing people achieves public safety. California has already tried that model, and it failed. Building more prisons and passing punitive laws didn’t make us safer; it only fueled[...]
“You Deserve to Heal”: Therapist Shay on the Power and Purpose of Free Therapy at ARC
“You Deserve to Heal”: Therapist Shay on the Power and Purpose of Free Therapy at ARC An Interview with ARC Communications Intern, Clarissa Gutierrez In a small office tucked inside the Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s Hope and Redemption Center, the work of healing is happening every day — quietly, intentionally, and without judgment. For many ARC members, therapy is one of the first chances they've had to pause and reflect on their pasts, their pain, and who they want to become. Shay is one of the full-time therapists helping to create that space. On any given day, you might find her chatting with someone[...]
Read ARC’s 2024 Impact Report
At ARC, we believe that compassion creates new pathways - a belief that guided our efforts to empower currently and formerly incarcerated people in 2024. In 2024, we welcomed 485 new members, mentored over 8,000 people in prisons, provided 2,000 free therapy sessions to members, and much more! From expanding workforce programming locations to achieving 100% participation in therapy for our youth in housing, we made transformational strides to rebuild lives and make our communities safer. Looking ahead, we will continue growing our programs and opportunities with increased access to housing and jobs, more efficient resources, and additional support to drive lasting[...]
ARC Celebrates Launch of LA County Firefighter Training Program for Women
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) is proud to celebrate the launch of the Los Angeles County Training Center's (LACTC) first all-female firefighter training cohort! LACTC is a partnership between ARC, Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department (JCOD), Amity Foundation, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. Seventeen women are participating in the job training program, which will certify them to work in fire service jobs while providing on-site room and board and support services. Read the LAist article and the CBS News video to learn more about the program and the stories of the female cadets!
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,[...]
