Press Releases
Explore the latest updates from ARC
ARC’s Hope and Redemption Team to Expand to 31 CDCR Prisons
Yesterday, Governor Newsom signed into law a budget which includes significant funding for rehabilitative programming inside California prisons, reentry services for returning citizens, survivors and victims of crimes, and age-appropriate care for system-involved youth. Most notably, the state will fully fund the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)’s transformative Hope and Redemption Team (HART), in which ARC Life Coaches who served life sentences go back into CDCR institutions to provide parole board preparation, rehabilitative programming, and reentry support to those still in confinement. The funding will allow the Hope and Redemption programming to operate in 31 prisons.
Advocates Praise Bi-Partisan Reform Package that Treats Children in the Criminal Justice System Like Children
Washington, DC – Congressmembers Bruce Westerman (R- AR), Karen Bass (D- CA), and Tony Cárdenas (D- CA) have introduced a bipartisan package of legislation supported by research and brain science with a clear message: Children are different from adults and must be treated differently in the criminal justice system. The members will appear in a press conference today at 3pm ET alongside those directly impacted to discuss the legislation -- register for the press conference here, and look for an email confirmation with log-in credentials.
Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Criminal Justice Legislation Into Law
SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom signed several criminal justice bills into law yesterday. Most notably, the bills the Governor signed will protect youth in police custody (SB 203) and pair oversight and accountability with the closure of the Department of Juvenile Justice (SB 823). “We applaud Governor Newsom for signing a suite of bills that enacts further positive change to our criminal justice system,” said Sam Lewis, Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC). “By recognizing the unique vulnerability of children and by choosing to close DJJ the right way, our California leadership continues to uphold the humanity of those who have experienced or are experiencing incarceration.”
$30 Million Public-Private Partnership Launched to Support Returning Citizens, as California Urgently Reduces Prison Populations to Curb Impact of COVID-19
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (August 27, 2020) -- Today, as COVID-19 spreads through prisons and jails, philanthropies and nonprofits joined the State of California and Governor Gavin Newsom to announce “Returning Home Well”, a new public-private partnership that provides essential services -- like housing, health care, treatment, transportation, direct assistance, and employment support -- for Californians returning home from prison after July 1, 2020. These are individuals that have either met their natural release date or are being released on an expedited timeline due to COVID-19. The State announced an initial commitment of $15 million, which will be matched by philanthropic contributions for a total goal of $30 million.
CDCR Update: Re-Notice of the Proposition 57 Regulations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Vicky Waters November 29, 2017 (916) 445-4950 CDCR Issues Amended Proposition 57 Regulations SACRAMENTO – Today, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) published a re-notice of the Proposition 57 regulations. The public will be given a 15-day period to submit comments on these revisions. The revised regulations are the result of a previous public comment period. The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) had approved emergency regulations for Proposition 57 in April. CDCR received comments from approximately 12,000 individuals earlier this year, and the department has worked diligently to prepare responses to these comments, which will be[...]
Governor Brown Announces Support of Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016
SACRAMENTO, CA – Gov. Jerry Brown today announced his support for the amended “Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016,” a criminal justice measure that was originally filed in December 2015. This measure will strengthen California’s justice system and increase public safety by expanding rehabilitation in prisons and improving the process by which youth can be tried as adults. Some key provisions of the ballot measure include the following: Requires judges, rather than prosecutors, to decide whether minors as young as 14 years old should be tried as adults and sent to adult prison. Allows persons convicted of a non-violent felony and[...]
