Press Releases

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 6 Passes CA Senate

SACRAMENTO, CA — Today the California State Senate passed Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 6, which would restore voting rights to over 50,000 Californians after release from prison. ACA 6, authored by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), passed with a 28-9 vote in the Senate, receivi

Lawsuits Filed on Behalf of Terminal Island and Lompoc Prisoners

LOS ANGELES — COVID-19 swept through the federal prisons in Lompoc and on Terminal Island like wildfires. More than 900 people incarcerated in Lompoc have tested positive for the virus — that’s more than 65% of positive tests in all of Santa Barbara County where the prison facilities are located.

Town Hall on L.A. District Attorney Policies During COVID-19

At a time when Los Angeles County jails and juvenile facilities are potential tinderboxes for the spread of COVID-19, community and advocacy groups are sponsoring a town hall to discuss how the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office has dealt with this critical issue. Several people will speak about

L.A. Supervisors to Vote on Ending Criminal Fees

LOS ANGELES ­— The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote February 18 on a landmark measure that would eliminate county criminal system administrative fees that have plunged people into debt at the very point they are trying to rebuild their lives.

D.A. Candidates in Los Angeles Hold First Debate

LOS ANGELES — The current race for district attorney in Los Angeles County involves issues so vital nationwide that the New York Times called it "the most important district attorney’s race in America." The Los Angeles Times said that except for the presidential race, it's the "most important item

Advocates Celebrate Governor Newsom's Signature on SB 136, Dismantling a Cruel, Ineffective Sentence Enhancement

​​​​​​​SACRAMENTO — Today, the Repeal Ineffective Sentence Enhancements (RISE) Coalition celebrated Governor Gavin Newsom's signature on SB 136: The RISE Act. The legislation, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), dismantles a cruel, expensive, and ineffective sentence enhancement that

Amendment to Give Parolees the Right to Vote Passes CA Assembly

SACRAMENTO — Today the California State Assembly passed Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 6, which would restore voting rights to nearly 50,000 Californians on parole. ACA 6, authored by Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), passed with a 54-16 vote. ACA 6 will next go through the California