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So far Ben Lear has created 65 blog entries.

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.

2022-02-15T20:16:18+00:00July 13, 2021|
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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. 

2022-02-15T20:16:18+00:00April 28, 2021|
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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.”

2022-02-15T20:16:18+00:00October 1, 2020|
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Statement from Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) on Change of Leadership at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

On behalf of the 1,600 ARC members throughout the state of California and thousands of our community members still incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), we thank outgoing Secretary of Corrections Ralph Diaz for his service and devotion to rehabilitation of incarcerated people. 

2022-02-15T20:15:28+00:00August 29, 2020|
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$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. 

2022-02-15T20:16:18+00:00August 27, 2020|
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Statement from Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) on killing of George Floyd

Our community is filled with alternating rage and sadness for the family of George Floyd in the wake of his brazen killing by Minneapolis police. We stand in solidarity and protest with people who are victims of state violence. At ARC, we believe communities and individuals are stronger when they are safe, healthy, and whole. Further, we see clearly how the interlocking systems of white supremacy and criminal justice deem some lives more valuable than others, in the wake of the recent deaths of #AhmaudArbery and #BreonnaTaylor.

2022-02-15T20:15:28+00:00May 31, 2020|
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ARC Virtual Fireside Chat – March 20th

Join Executive Director, Sam Lewis, and other ARC leaders this Friday at 12:00pm PT for our first-ever Virtual Fireside Chat. You’ll hear from speakers who themselves have been incarcerated during a lockdown, who know firsthand what some of our most vulnerable community members are experiencing right now.

2022-02-15T20:15:28+00:00March 17, 2020|
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Read if you were incarcerated at Lynwood (CRDF) Between 2008-2015

Please read the following LA Times story about the record settlement for thousands of women humiliated during strip searches in LA County’s Women’s Jail. Please also see below if you might have been impacted by this settlement. If you were incarcerated at Lynwood (CRDF) and have questions about the class action settlement for strip searches, please reach out to Lindsay Battles, one of the attorneys handling the case. You can send her a friend request and she will add you to a private Facebook group for this case. You can also call (626) 844-7660.

2022-02-15T20:15:28+00:00July 25, 2019|
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ARC Announces Sam Lewis As Next Executive Director

The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) has selected Sam Lewis as its next Executive Director. Sam is an ARC member and Director of Inside Programs, a first-of-its kind initiative that he built from scratch. A former life prisoner himself, Sam oversees our Hope & Redemption Team (HART), nine former lifers who go back into California state prisons to provide hope, to demonstrate that redemption is achievable, and to prepare participants for successful reentry into our communities. His work on the HART team exemplifies what’s best about ARC: our desire to reach and walk with those who have been most marginalized by society.

2022-02-15T20:15:28+00:00June 15, 2019|
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NFL Selects ARC As Recipient of Social Justice Grant, Part of #InspireChange Platform

As part of its ongoing Inspire Change platform, the National Football League today announced that eight social justice organizations are receiving grants, as approved by the joint NFL owner-player working group. ARC is one of the organizations receiving a grant. The grants, which total nearly $2 million, are part of a $20 million commitment from the NFL and its teams to social justice organizations during the 2018 calendar year. The $20 million is comprised of grants to social justice organizations from the NFL Foundation, social justice grants approved by the NFL owners-players working group, team and player contributions, and an ongoing financial commitment to the Players Coalition.

2022-02-15T20:15:28+00:00June 4, 2019|
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