News & Policy Updates
Explore the latest updates from ARC
ARC Statement on recent racist remarks by LA City Councilmembers
ARC Statement on recent racist remarks by LA City Councilmembers from Executive Director Sam Lewis: ARC stands against the recent hateful remarks made by LA City Council members. Racism, anti-blackness, anti-Indigeneity, homophobia, and all forms of discrimination do not have a place in our city. Mass incarceration and other forms of oppression are deeply intertwined, where people of color are still overrepresented at every level of the justice system,including our prisons and juvenile facilities. ARC is a community where Black, Brown, and all people unite to heal and support each other. ARC hopes this will push our community members to[...]
VICTORY! Gov. Newsom Signs 2022 Reforms Into Law.
We’re thrilled to announce that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed our 2022 CA policy priorities into law! “We applaud Governor Newsom for signing a suite of bills that recognizes the dignity and futures of Californians who have experienced incarceration,” said Sam Lewis, Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC). ”Ending mass incarceration includes the idea that one should not be held back due to a prior conviction, allowing people to strive towards greatness during reentry." AB 2417 (Ting): Youth Bill of Rights Youth in the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) currently have a Youth Bill of Rights, which explains their rights and protections. But[...]
Governor Newsom Signs Budget, including HART Team Funding
Yesterday, Governor Newsom signed into law a budget which includes significant funding for rehabilitative programming inside CA prisons, reentry services for returning citizens, support for survivors & victims of crimes, & age-appropriate care for system-involved youth. Notably, the state will fully fund our Hope & Redemption Team (HART), in which ARC Life Coaches who served life sentences go back inside to provide parole board preparation, rehabilitative programming, & reentry support to those still in confinement. The funding will allow HART to operate in 31 prisons. Also included in this budget are the following investments in our incarcerated & free communities. Provides $27[...]
Statement on Roe v Wade
We are enraged at the recent Supreme Court decision (Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization) to overturn Roe v. Wade. We recognize this as an attack on human rights. We know incarcerated women are and have historically been impacted by reproductive oppression, including forced sterilization in California prisons this century. All people in prison do not have full control of their bodies. This decision is one that limits women’s and pregnant people’s bodily autonomy and control over their own lives. It strikes fear, uncertainty, and despair in the hearts and lives of many women throughout this country, including in our community. Further,[...]
Statement on ACA 3
We are deeply disappointed that ACA 3 failed to pass the California State Senate in time to make the November 2022 ballot. Read our statement below:
ARC Selected by Mackenzie Scott
We are honored to announce that we are a beneficiary of MacKenzie Scott’s generosity. We applaud her groundbreaking approach to philanthropy and we’re grateful that she has made justice reform a pillar of her giving. This is incredible news for us and our partners.
Sam Lewis testifies against Prop 47 Rollbacks
We defeated a rollback of Prop 47. ARC’s Sam Lewis gave testimony against AB 1599, the dangers of tough-on-crime legislation, and how felony records have negatively impacted our communities because of Prop 47, we have reduced the prison population while expunging records across CA. Prop 47 savings have supported our communities with drug treatment, mental health, victims' services, and many other vital resources.
NFL Inspire Change
Yesterday ARC, NFL’s Inspire Change, and Place4Grace worked together to provide 21 kids with incarcerated fathers a day they won’t soon forget! 21 kids got the chance to tour the NFL Network Studios, be inspired by NFL talent like MJ Acosta-Ruiz, Willie Mcginest, Steve Smith Colleen Wolfe , and Jim Trotter, and were surprised with a special gift from their dads. With the help of CA Corrections, these dads were able to record messages of love, hope, and encouragement for their kids to see. Then, after some coaching from NFL’s on-air talent, the kids went into NFL Studios and recorded their own[...]
NBA Grant
Today, the NBA Foundation has announced 38 new grants totaling $11 million to help create employment opportunities, further career advancement and drive greater economic empowerment for Black youth. Learn more: nbafoundation.com “We are thrilled to be a NBA Foundation grantee alongside such diverse and impactful community organizations. This grant will allow us to expand our current programming providing comprehensive support networks and opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Black youth.” -Sam Lewis, Executive Director of ARC
ARC/NBA visit Indiana Prison
An inspiring day played out earlier this month in IDOC Putnam Correctional Facility with the Indiana Pacers, Represent Justice, Plus One Society, Last Mile, ARC, and our incarcerated community members. Members of the Pacers and our incarcerated community members were able to play an uplifting basketball game, which gave everyone a sense of brotherhood. Many of our incarcerated community members shared their story in order to enlighten the broader community, uplift their voices, and to build community. We are so happy to be a part of this narrative change!
DC Advocacy
Today ARC leaders Michael Mendoza, Celina Chapin, Oscar Canales, and Jerome Dixon joined Congressman Cárdenas and leaders from partner advocacy groups urging the passage of bipartisan legislation to treat children like children in the federal criminal legal system. The event came after the introduction of Congressman Cárdenas’ commemorative Resolution recognizing October as Youth Justice Action Month.
Magnolia Gardening
More photos from our community garden event at our Magnolia Housing site in Los Angeles earlier this month. We felt such energy, love, and community that day. Netflix’s On My Block is supporting and collaborating with leading community organizations around the country to give back as part of the Love My Block initiative. Love My Block is an initiative from the series On My Block that is encouraging community action and highlighting the importance of giving back to the “block that shaped us”.
ARC member Ezekiel Nishiyama selected as Los Angeles County Youth Commissioner
We are excited to announce the appointment of ARC Youth Advocate Ezekiel Nishiyama as a Youth Commissioner to the LA County Youth Commission. This Commission seeks to help child welfare & juvenile justice systems center youth voices in their efforts to co-design & improve policies, programs, & services. We applaud the appointment of youth with lived experience to lead this county effort. Inspired by his lived experience in the juvenile justice system, Ezekiel advocates daily to re-imagine the systems he was once in. Read more about Ezekiel below. “At 15 yrs I found myself on the wrong path in life, making negative[...]
Statement on Derek Chauvin Verdict
ARC Statement on the Derek Chauvin Verdict Our hearts are with the family of George Floyd as no decision today will bring his life back. We are grateful that the jury’s decision to convict Derek Chauvin of murder is an acknowledgment that George Floyd’s life mattered and that, in this case, there was legal recourse for families of individuals who are killed by the state. We look forward to a day where accountability for state violence against our community members is not the exception, but the norm. We continue working toward a world that is safe for all our community members, including[...]
Netflix Show “Worn Stories” features ARC’s Ride Home Program
ARC's Ride Home Program will be featured in Worn Stories, a new Netflix documentary series about clothes and the people who wear them. The series begins streaming today, April 1. The episode ARC is a part of is called "Beginnings." The show is based on the bestselling book by Emily Spivack. Included is a ride the amazing Carlos Cervantes did in 2020 picking up our community member Rudy T. after 40+ years incarcerated, in addition to part of Carlos's own story and detailing of the program. Shout-out to Carlos, all the ARC members/staff past and present who have given rides home. Shoutout[...]
DA Gascón Policies Introduced
Today Los Angeles ushered in a new District Attorney, George Gascón, marking the beginning of a new era of justice reform. In Gascón’s virtual inauguration he announced his commitment to changing the Los Angeles justice system with several historical changes including ending three-strikes sentencing, ending the transfer of youth to adult court, retroactively ending all enhancements, ending cash bail for misdemeanors and non-violent offenses, and no longer pursuing the death penalty. This new era of justice aims to focus on public safety, trauma informed care, victim’s needs, enhancing police and community relations, and saving taxpayer money. ARC is excited to work with[...]
Prop 17 Passes
Today, millions of CA voters approved Proposition 17, restoring the right to vote to over 50,000 Californians who have completed their prison terms. Together, we have freed the vote for our community members on parole! We are so grateful to the organizations and individuals who drove this campaign and especially to the ARC members and staff who, after tonight, are no longer disenfranchised because of their supervision status. We want to send a special shout out to Jose Grano Gonzalez, Efrain Ortiz, Salim Allen, Mark Taylor, Raeshone Holmes, Jarret Keith, Alyssa Gallo, Cory Pepper, Jesse Cuevas, Sammy King, Curtis Nunez, Joshua Pinedo[...]
Prop 25 fails to pass
Though we are disappointed to see Prop 25 fall short in front of CA voters, we will continue to fight for economic justice and equity at all levels of our systems, including pretrial detention. We especially want to thank our partners at Californians for Safety and Justice, Western Center on Law on Poverty, SEIU California, League of Women Voters of CA, members of the CA legislature, and especially ARC members and staff Akilah Shands, Michael Mendoza, Esteban Nunez, Sam Lewis, and Dominique Davis for their tireless advocacy on behalf of this initiative. We are committed to removing wealth as a primary determinant[...]
Prop 20 Defeated
Last Tuesday, CA voters overwhelmingly rejected Prop 20 (62% NO, 38% YES), choosing to value hope and rehabilitation over more prison spending and excessive punishment. We are grateful to the millions of Californians who chose to move us forward, not back. We can’t celebrate this success without thanking all the organizations and individuals for their dedication and hard work. Our community partners included justice reform orgs, law centers, public defenders, progressive district attorneys, labor unions, crime survivor orgs, education groups, faith groups, and CA legislators. As always, we are grateful to our members, staff, and formerly incarcerated community members leveraging their time,[...]
Bills signed by Governor, including AB 2147
During a year that has been especially difficult for our community members both inside and outside of correctional facilities, we commend Governor Newsom for signing the bills below into law. We commend the legislators who championed and supported the legislation, and thank our community partners who worked tirelessly throughout the year to ensure their passage. SB 203: This law requires that youth 17 years and younger consult with legal counsel before waiving their Miranda Rights. By allowing our youth to understand their rights, we can ensure the outcomes of interrogations are just and lawful, creating greater trust, accountability, and due process for[...]
