Due to a change in the felony-murder rule, starting Jan. 1, codefendants will no longer automatically be considered guilty of murder for participating in crimes such as armed robbery. The law is retroactive. On Sept. 30, with a stroke of his pen, Gov. Jerry Brown made Senate Bill 1437 the law. The bill presented by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) states that prosecutors can no longer hold accomplices, who had no intent to kill anyone during the commission of certain specified crimes, accountable for a murder committed by a … [Read more...] about SB 1437 eliminates felony-murder rule
Parole and release
Growth in electronic monitoring doubles
The use of electronic monitoring (EM) devices in the United States has more than doubled in the past decade, with more than 125,000 wearing such tracking devices in 2016, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts report. Local governments use EM in a variety of contexts, including as a condition of pretrial release or probation and for youth offenders. At least 51 of 58 California counties have EM programs, according to a recent study by the Samuelson Law Clinic at the University of California at Berkeley and East Bay Community Law Center … [Read more...] about Growth in electronic monitoring doubles
50 men graduate from California Re-entry Institute
The idea behind the California Re-entry Institute (CRI) is to begin the re-integration process in prison and continue support services once released. The 18-24-month-to-the- gate program recently graduated more than 50 men in San Quentin State Prison’s Garden Chapel on Sept. 7 from its two programs of Crime Impact Awareness and Empowered Re-entry. “It’s amazing the work they’ve done,” CRI executive director Collette Carroll said. “They come every Saturday. They work hard. They share. They ask for case management. “They are always … [Read more...] about 50 men graduate from California Re-entry Institute
PRISON TO EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION (PEC)
Prison to Employment Connection (PEC) is one of the most valuable programs at San Quentin for men looking to the future. Twenty-two inmates graduated from the program’s seventh session in May. The week before graduation, the men did face-to-face interviews with employers looking to hire qualified formerly incarcerated citizens. More than 40 participants enrolled in the program in February to learn interview skills, résumé writing and other forms of communication. In doing so, they were able to determine what career path was right for them … [Read more...] about PRISON TO EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION (PEC)
One member of Black liberation group paroles
Black activist Debbie Sims Africa overcame a decade of parole denials and finally received her freedom after serving nearly 40 years within Pennsylvania’s prison system. Africa and eight other MOVE members were all jointly convicted of a policeman’s murder in 1978. MOVE is a political organization founded in 1970s Philadelphia to protest rampant police brutality. The officer died during a raid on MOVE’s residential headquarters, detailed in a recent workers.org article. Africa, now 61, is the first of the “MOVE 9” to be … [Read more...] about One member of Black liberation group paroles
Project Rebound expands
Project Rebound is assisting ex-prisoners to stay and thrive in college once they parole back into the larger community. Working in conjunction with California State University (CSU), the program operates at nine of the system’s 14 campuses. “According to a RAND analysis, every $1 invested in such [inmate] education generates at least $4 in economic return,” reports Fast Company. “The state typically spends $71,000 a year to house an inmate. It costs about $5,000 total to help put one [incarcerated] student through community college”, … [Read more...] about Project Rebound expands
California Coalition for Women Prisoners Introduces Alisha Coleman to the world
I introduce to you Alisha Coleman, our new staff at the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Alisha was introduced to CCWP through the FiredUp! Group that is offered in the San Francisco County jail. At first Alisha was hesitant about the group, until she met the women of CCWP. According to Alisha there was a genuineness to the women representing CCWP that she had yet to see in the many different outside facilitated groups. Alisha is a published author of The Fire Inside having had a poem she had written published during the … [Read more...] about California Coalition for Women Prisoners Introduces Alisha Coleman to the world
Parolees having trouble with treatment programs
Drug offenders are having trouble getting services to help with their addictions once they get out of prison, a report by three newspapers concludes. “The state has not yet invested enough money in treatment programs,” according to a seven-month study conducted by the Ventura County Star, the Redding Record Searchlight, and the Salinas Californian. “The state has not yet invested enough money in treatment programs” The report concluded that thousands of addicts and mentally ill people have gone from incarceration to the streets, … [Read more...] about Parolees having trouble with treatment programs
Negative: Parolees leave prison homeless and jobless
By David Eugene Archer Sr. At least 13,500 low-level drug offenders were freed from prisons and jails by California voters in 2014, reported USA Today. “Did Prop 47 help?” the newspaper asked. The answer appears to be “not much.” Thousands are now homeless, jobless and again committing petty crimes. The Prop 47 releases exposed the limits of California’s neglected social service programs. The proposition earmarked millions of dollars saved from prison costs for inmate rehabilitation, but not one penny was spent — even though expanding … [Read more...] about Negative: Parolees leave prison homeless and jobless
Study: Police Should Help Ex-Cons
Police should help former prisoners reenter their communities, but too often are reluctant to be involved, a Harvard study says. “Police should embrace the reality of people returning to their communities as a public safety challenge and promote a problem-solving strategy for reducing the re-arrest rates of people coming home from prison,” the study concludes. The study says early police intervention in the reentry process could reduce crime and recidivism. There are complications to collaboration between community-based rehabilitation … [Read more...] about Study: Police Should Help Ex-Cons