News from ARC
Explore the latest updates from ARC
“Pre-Probation” Supervision of Youth of Color With No Prior Court or Probation Involvement
Children's Defense Fund-California, Youth Justice Coalition, Urban Peace Institute and Anti-Recidivism Coalition have joined together to voice concern about "voluntary supervision" by the Los Angeles Probation Department over youth who have no prior court or probation involvement. In their report, "WIC 236 - 'Pre-Probation' Supervision of Youth of Color With No Prior Court or Probation Involvement," the youth advocacy organizations argue that supervision by a law enforcement agency, like probation, is not the appropriate response to a demographic of overwhelmingly youth of color who are struggling with mostly school performance problems, like poor grades and attendance. California’s Welfare and Institutions Code section[...]
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Rewriting the Script for Ex-Inmates
How a Hollywood Producer Shines a Spotlight on the Justice System Scott Budnick, a key player on the Hangover movies, sidelined his film career to go behind bars and help troubled young men turn their lives around. This article is available exclusively to Chronicle of Philanthropy subscribers. Visit the source link below to subscribe.
San Francisco Chronicle: A Door Back Into Society
By ARC Member Michael Mendoza America is known as the land of opportunity. But opportunity is not created equal. For some, theirs is the opportunity of inferior schools, violent neighborhoods, crime and unforgiving cycles of prison and recidivism. According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, when an inmate is released from state prison, that person has a nearly 80 percent chance of getting rearrested within five years. So we must ask ourselves — what can we do to break this pattern? When I was 15 years old, I was arrested for a gang-related offense. I was tried as an[...]
CA FWD: Union Training Partnership Aims to Give Formerly Incarcerated More Than a Job
When Thomas Reese III was 15 years old, he made a poor decision that led to an 18 years to life sentence. After 17-1/2 years, he was released and needed to get his life on track. He found construction work, which kept him and his family afloat, but didn’t provide benefits or job security. He found a chance at a better life with the newly-formed Los Angeles Reentry Workforce Collaborative, which trains the formerly incarcerated for union jobs in construction. The Collaborative is a 12-week program that starts with life skills classes provided by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and moves to construction-based[...]
California Voters Pass Prop 57!
Last night, Californians took a huge step in the direction of a fairer justice system, and safer and healthier communities by voting in favor of Prop. 57! With over 65% of the vote, Californians chose to: 1) Protect our young people by mandating that judges, not prosecutors, determine whether a youth is best served in the juvenile or adult system. 2) Allow people with non-violent convictions to appear before the parole board after completing the sentence for their primary offense. 3) Build safer and healthier communities by creating incentives for incarcerated Californians to complete rehabilitative programs and earn additional credits towards their[...]
The Sacramento Bee: Group Founded by ‘Hangover’ Producer Aims to Reform Sacramento’s Juvenile Offenders
At the age of 11, West Sacramento native Michael Rizo first entered the juvenile justice system after he stole something from his neighbor’s yard. “I started messing up around elementary school, just started getting influenced by negative people,” Rizo said. In the years that followed, he moved in and out of foster care, often running away from home and living in abandoned houses. Rizo said he continued to act out as he got older, participating in gang activity and a string of robberies. By 17, a fight with a rival gang member landed him with a 3 1/2-year sentence in juvenile hall.[...]
