INSIDE NEWSLETTER
Issue #9 / October 2020
In This Issue 1
Letter from Sam Lewis, ARC’s Executive Director
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Policy Updates
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Proposition 17
I sincerely pray that each of you and your families are well and safe during these difficult and tumultuous times.
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Raising Prison Labor Wages Campaign | Supporting Our Women
I reflect on the days, months, and years I was incarcerated. And though these times are more complicated, we have made significant progress with changing our justice system. The state prison population is below 100,000 people for the first time in 30 years. In the next year, (DVI) Tracy State prison will be closed and The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), or YA as many of us used to call it, facilities will begin to close and stop the intake of our youth.
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HART Virtual Programming Updates | Inside Voices
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Our Community In Action
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Resource/Legal Help | Sam’s Fireside Chat
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Stay Connected
a letter from our Executive Director Sam Lewis Greetings to all of our community members who are currently incarcerated.
This year, ARC co-sponsored more legislation which Governor Newsom has signed into law. Senate Bill 203 will provide access to an attorney prior to young people waiving their Miranda rights while in police custody . Another new law, Assembly Bill 2147, allows people in fire camps to have their records expunged, clearing the way for them to obtain licenses such as an EMT license for firefighting. These are great accomplishments that have made our system more equitable, and though the system is getting smaller, my heart remains heavy for those that have passed away due to COVID-19. My heart also remains heavy for all the families that have not seen their loved ones. I think about this every day. As an organization, we are working and advocating every day for our people inside. We are here for each of you, and we will continue to support you. In these difficult and uncertain times, I humbly ask each of you to be kind to each other. Understand that this is difficult for everyone, especially those that remain incarcerated. As much as possible, be patient and supportive of each other. And always know that we are here for you and with you every step of the way. In Solidarity,
SAM LEWIS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION (ARC). A FORMER LIFE PRISONER, SAM UNDERSTANDS THE VARIOUS OBSTACLES THE PRISON AND REENTRY POPULATIONS FACE. IN 2017, SAM CREATED THE HOPE AND REDEMPTION TEAM (HART), A GROUP OF NINE FORMER CALIFORNIA LIFE PRISONERS WHO GO BACK INTO CALIFORNIA STATE PRISONS TO PROVIDE HOPE, DEMONSTRATE THAT REDEMPTION IS ACHIEVABLE, AND TO PREPARE PARTICIPANTS FOR SUCCESSFUL REENTRY INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
Policy Update 2020 During this time, ARC is working with partners to advocate for more people to be released as well as your health and safety, including oversight. ARC worked hard to pass many different bills that were signed by the Governor into law. CA BALLOT INITIATIVES Proposition 17: The Free The Vote Ballot Measure (YES): Proposition 17 will restore the right to vote to over 50,000 people on parole. If passed by California voters this November 3, Californians on parole --our friends, family members, neighbors-- will have their voting rights restored. #YesOn17 Proposition 20: Keep California Safe Initiative (NO): The Keep California Safe Act would roll back Propositions 47 and 57, which are two of our past successes. Propositions 47 and 57 have made it possible for many ARC members to obtain early release and return home with degrees, certificates, and life skills to help them thrive as leaders in their communities. Despite the success of these reforms, this 2020 ballot measure is threatening to roll them back. We strongly oppose this measure. #NoOn20
PICTURED: ARC MEMBERS JOIN GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM AS HE SIGNS YOUTH JUSTICE LEGISLATION INTO LAW
Proposition 25: Money Bail (YES): This initiative seeks to uphold Senate Bill 10, which was passed in the California legislature last year and would discontinue the practice of bail and instead rely on risk assessment tools to determine if someone should be released from custody pre-trial. We support this measure. #YesOn25
You can help by telling your family and friends to vote for the upcoming ballot measures in November 2020: Yes on 17, Yes on 25, and No on 20. Passing these crucial ballot measures will get us closer to ending felony disenfranchisement for everyone in California, removing cash bail, and preventing opponents of rehabilitation from rolling back Props 57 and 47. 2020 LEGISLATIVE REFORMS AB 2147 was signed into law by the Governor and will provide an expedited expungement process for formerly incarcerated people that have successfully participated in fire camps. AB2147 will provide formerly incarcerated people who were in fire camps an opportunity to become EMT certified. SB 203 was signed into law by the Governor and will require youth under the age of 18 to consult with legal counsel before they waive their constitutional rights. AB 1869 was signed into law by the Governor and will end the assessment and collection of 23 different fees imposed against people in the criminal system. By eliminating these fees, California would dramatically reduce the suffering caused by courtordered debt and enhance the economic security of system-involved populations SB 823: Alternative Trailer Bill on DJJ Closure Inclusive of Oversight, Accountability and Safeguards was signed into law by the Governor and will begin the closure Division of Juvenile Justice and create the Office of Youth Justice (OYJ) within Health and Human Services to provide leadership, oversight, and accountability for Youth Justice.DJJ will stop intake of youth on June 2021 and counties across California will be responsible for youth who commit serious harms going forward. If you have any questions or policy ideas, please continue to call and write to us. Your insight and feedback is crucial to reforming our criminal justice system in California. You may send mail to the LA or Sacramento offices, make sure to write: C/O ARC Policy. Please be patient as it takes longer for mail to reach us as we are rarely in the office. Stay safe and healthy-- we are thinking of you. Sincerely ARC Policy Team
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Vote ‘yes’ on Prop. 17 to restore voting rights to our Brothers and Sisters on Parole ARC Life Coach Mark Taylor tells you why Prop 17 matters to our people. A version of this article was first published in The Daily Californian.
While I was in prison, every waking moment of every day felt like a perpetual state of misery. The social death I incurred as a result of my incarceration deepened the sense of disenfranchisement that I have felt my entire life. As prisoner K86991, I was denied a variety of rights. When I completed my 26-years-to-life prison term and paroled Sept. 12, 2018, I thought that my disenfranchisement and the accompanying nightmare were finally over. I was wrong. The thousands of collateral consequences that awaited me when I walked out of prison made it clear that I am not a “full” citizen. Citizens can go where they want when they want. Citizens can pursue whatever professional licenses their hearts desire. Citizens have property rights. And most importantly, citizens can vote. For me and tens of thousands of my fellow community members, these same rights are either extremely curtailed or nonexistent. Of all the consequences I suffer as a result of my felony conviction 25 years ago, none are as consequential as California’s constitutional ban on the voting rights of people on parole. I was reminded of this fact in a recent conversation with my daughter, who asked my opinion on the presidential election. When she asked whom I would be voting for, I explained that I cannot vote because I am on parole. Initially, I felt ashamed. Then I reminded myself that my past criminal conviction does not define who I am today. While incarcerated, I earned six associate degrees, attended more than 1,000 hours of self-help groups and more importantly, fundamentally changed who I am as a human being. Once released, I became a force for good within my community. Initially, I worked as a certified Braille transcriber producing alternate forms of media for California community college students. Now I work inside California’s Pelican Bay State Prison as a full-time life coach and am a full-time college student at Humboldt State University. I pay taxes and volunteer wherever and whenever I can. I am one of about 50,000 people who have completed their prison terms in California, yet are still denied the right to vote. Because of ongoing racial inequalities in our criminal justice system, three out of four men leaving California prisons are Black, Latinx or Asian American. As a result, the California Constitution disproportionately disenfranchises people of color. The particular disenfranchisement of Black voters, such as myself and my great-great-grandparents, is not a new phenomenon in the United States. Black voters have been systematically turned away from state polling places since this country’s inception. In the not-too-distant past, literacy tests, poll taxes, intimidation and fraud were all used to deny Black people the right to vote. Today, our past criminal records have been weaponized and used to deny us this right as well. Different tactic, same outcome: the disqualification of otherwise qualified voters. My official parole discharge review date is Sept. 11, 2025, which means I will be on parole for a total of at least seven years. That is seven years that I will be paying taxes, helping pay the salaries of elected officials whom I cannot vote for or against. That is seven years that I will not be able to vote on incredibly important ballot propositions. And I am not alone or unique — there are thousands of Californians who have completed their prison terms and are now contributing to their communities, though they are still denied the right to be full participants in our shared democracy. Voting is the hallmark of a genuinely democratic society. I am extremely optimistic that California voters will affirm Proposition 17 on Nov. 3, which will amend the California Constitution to restore the right to vote to people who have completed their prison terms. Prop. 17 is a test of California’s values — passing it will demonstrate that we unequivocally stand for equality, inclusion and fairness. Tell your family and friends to vote yes on Prop 17, so our voices matter in society and at the ballot box.
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Raising Prison Labor Wages Campaign Last year ARC introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR69, the Dignity For Incarcerated Workers Act, to create awareness of the need to raise your wages. We are laying the groundwork for this resolution to become a bill within the next couple of years, which will be a hard effort to accomplish. To keep this effort going forward, we need your help. Please answer the questions below as your answers and send us your feedback to help build a campaign to raise wages for incarcerated workers. Please write and mail us with ATTN: Wages Project 1320 E. 7th Street, Suite 260, Los Angeles,CA 90021. • List the different jobs you have held and the duties of each job • How much do you earn per hour? How much do you earn per week? • What products or services do you make? Please tell us in detail. • Why is being paid a fair wage important to you? • Is it hard to pay for a canteen or purchase other items. Please tell us why? • How would an increased wage help you to pay off restitution, child support, other debts, and help you better prepare for reentry? • Do you feel exploited by working in prison or by the amount you earn? • What else should the public know about being an incarcerated worker and the prison labor system?
supporting our women Norma Cumpian, Manager for Women and Non-Binary Services at ARC, and creator of the Pen-pal Program continues to send the women incarcerated at Chino Institution for Women (CIW) stationary packages and stamps to maintain correspondence throughout this tumultuous time. “We are excited to announce that we have had our first woman of the Pen-pal Program return home. Our plan is to have our inside mentee meet with not only the mentor she worked with while incarcerated but the entire pen-pal mentor community. Once released, the mentee now has a community of advocates to guide them through the challenges and obstacles they may face upon reentry,” Cumpian shares. In conjunction with the Sacramento women’s team, the women of the ARC Los Angeles office also began hosting a monthly virtual party where women can meet to have game nights where various themes are explored. “This is a way to build unity and camaraderie within our community while giving our members a chance to express themselves in an open setting,” shares Cumpian. “We also plan on launching our own women’s group at the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF). Prior to the spread of COVID-19, we would go inside facilities with partner organizations, but once this pandemic is over, we’ll pick up where we left off.”
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HART Virtual Programming Update Mark Taylor is a former lifer, and Life Coach at Crescent City, California.
In March 2020, in response to COVID-19, ARC pulled all of our HART personnel out of all carceral facilities in California to proactively limit the exposure of both people inside as well as our staff. Hope and Redemption Team Life Coach, Taylor says, “We switched over to virtual programming, and in a period of 30 days, we began delivering packets to our incarcerated community to maintain continuity in our programming. The packets cover an array of curricula, from a review of past assignments, space for student feedback, and curriculum progress.” When asked his thoughts on how the adaptation to virtual correspondence has impacted him and the men inside, Taylor reflects, “Onsite communication is always preferred, but given the reality of COVID-19, distance correspondence is the only viable solution. I’m fortunate to be able to give these guys a chance to continue their rehabilitative processes and gain access to the Chronos and certificates needed to be successful. What has been the most fulfilling aspect of virtual correspondence is seeing the students be fully engaged during our check-ins and maintain the same quality of work. It still inspires introspection, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters.” Taylor has recently graduated students from the last cycle on July 17th and is excited to begin the next cycle. To join ARC HART rehabilitative programming, fill out a 2016 form to be added to the waitlist for the next available group.
Inside voices
We are featuring work from people who are currently incarcerated. We are proud to lift up the minds of people who are currently incarcerated. To submit, please see the guidelines on the back page. “We Make the World” By Matt Barnes Real life is not always going to be perfect nor is it going to go our way. It is a mystery and something that should be cherished. Don’t live in the past, thinking about the mistakes or changes that you’ve made. This mindset will only accomplish in holding you back from your full potential. Learn from your mistakes but focus on your future.When we educate ourselves, we strive to become a better person than who we are. When we strive to become this better version of ourselves, everything around us also improves. The acknowledgement of what is working in our lives can help us overcome our past and embrace a brighter future for ourselves and community. Keep in mind, we are all that we think that we are. With our thoughts we make the world. “The Monster Within” By Frank Garcia F.34828 C.S.P.L.A.C. You see a glimmer of light Deep Deep in the darkness Like a candle flame Seen fifty miles away Feeling the flickering flame With a whisper of hope it grows Through positive actions It explodes Like a lightning bolt So bright its flash The dark form quivers And screams Breaks apart into many small fiends Dying in the light No hate to fight with They wither and fade Not even ashes Left in their wake Finally You realize You’ve conquered the hate
“Pandemic” By Earl Young (#V-06022 Centinela State Prison) A disease, I’ve been suffering from for well over 20 years The world is on lockdown, Now there’s tears, tears, tears. Now to do good things for the world, I aspire. Though I see many more dark days ahead. And I say to the incarcerated, please do not dread. Please try to be happy, inside this added misery. Even when things seem so weary. Remember the days, when we thought lifers would never get out. Now we have family visits again, a cadence, I gladly shout. Believe me, there are things on the horizon to cheer. Even as the life we used to know continues to veer. And we will pick up the pieces and mend.
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our community in action
ARC members from our Magnolia Housing Program share a meal together.“This is how we support each other in these challenging times.” Darlene, Life Coach at Magnolia Housing Program.
Our Ride Home Program helps individuals being released from prison by giving them a ride from the prison gates to their destination. Pictured above are Joseph Osorio and Mark Taylor, two members of our Hope And Redemption Team based in Crescent City, California.
Meet Pamela Thompson! She was one of the first women who successfully re-entered society through 1170D and is our new life coach in the Los Angeles office Members of our formerly incarcerated community have been given an amazing opportunity to thrive in a career that allows them to be of ultimate service to their communities. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Conservation Corps along with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), have provided these men with the opportunity to thrive. In partnership with ARC, they offer an enhanced firefighter training and certification program at the Ventura Training Center (VTC), located in Ventura County.
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legal help We know many of you have legal questions and need resources for your case. As a reminder, ARC is not a law firm, we are unable to provide you with legal assistance. If you need legal help or have questions, please call Root and Rebound’s free legal hotline Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm (PST) at 510-279-4662 Protecting Your Identity and Credit While you’re on the inside, it’s important to prevent identity theft to protect your credit. Your credit reports matter: Credit reports may affect your mortgage rates, credit card approvals, apartment requests, or even your job application. Protections are available to help keep your credit file safe from potential fraud or identity theft. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders and other financial companies treat you fairly. The CFPB has received a number of complaints from incarcerated and previously incarcerated individuals who reported damage to their credit reports because of identity theft or other misuse of their accounts Security Freeze If you want to completely prohibit the release of your credit file to potential new lenders, you may want a Security Freeze. The security freeze will stop these lenders from accessing your credit file. This would prevent you and others from opening new accounts in your name. But note that not all lenders review a credit report before offering creditReviewing credit reports helps you catch signs of identity theft early. Federal law allows you to: Get a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company.Ensure that the information on all of your credit reports is correct and up to date. To Obtain your FREE Credit report • The request should include your full name, previous mailing addresses, date of birth, and Social Security number. • Provide a notarized letter from the warden or other authorized personnel verifying the prison as your place of residence. The letter should be on the correction institution’s letterhead and include your CDCR number. • If you believe that you’re a victim of identity theft, the request should mention that. Then an initial security alert (also known as a fraud alert) can be placed on the credit file. This alerts creditors that the account is potentially a case of identity theft. Then, they know to contact the requester before opening a new account or extending credit. Mail the request and notarized letter to: Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281 1.
To Freeze your credit you have to request a Security Freeze separately at each of the three major credit reporting companies. Equifax Security Freeze P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, Georgia 30348 (800) 685-1111
Experian Security Freeze P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 Experian (888) 397-3742
TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 (888) 909-8872
Make sure you keep your records, and any pin numbers for freezing your credit, you will need this information to “thaw” or unlock your credit.
Tell your friends and family to watch our weekly live streams on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/antirecidivismcoalition for more updates on how ARC is supporting you.
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Anti-Recidivism Coalition 1320 E. 7th Street Suite 260 Los Angeles, CA 90021
Founded in 2013, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) works to end mass incarceration in California. To ensure our communities are safe, healthy, and whole, ARC empowers formerly and currently incarcerated people to thrive by providing a support network, comprehensive reentry services, and opportunities to advocate for policy change. Through our grassroots policy advocacy, we are dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system so that it is more just and equitable for all people. Our supportive services – which include case management, trauma-informed counseling, housing, education, employment training, and mentorship – ensure that those returning home are given the best chance to be healthy, whole members of their communities. Our programs, correspondence, and legislative work on behalf of currently incarcerated people create hope and a pathway to freedom for many who never thought freedom possible. Masthead Executive Director: Sam Lewis Associate Director of Inside Programs: Jacob Brevard Deputy Director: Bikila Ochoa Inside Newsletter Editor-in-Chief: Nicholas Reiner Deputy Editor: Josh Pynoos Design Editor: John Dich Policy Editor: Celina Chapin Staff Writer: Myles Flournoy Operations: Robert Chavez
Write to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition Los Angeles: Anti-Recidivism Coalition, 1320 E. 7th Street Suite 260, Los Angeles, CA 90021 Sacramento: Anti-Recidivism Coalition, 1414 K Street, Suite 150, Sacramento, CA 95814 During this pandemic, we want to hear from you, and know what life is like, so we can help amplify your voices and the current state of life inside prison. Please write to us and tell us what needs to be done to keep you healthy and safe. Please write to us at ATTN: #COVID-19 Submission, 1320 E. 7th Street, Suite 260, Los Angeles, CA 90021 •
PANDEMIC: What is it like being an essential worker who is incarcerated?
If you write ARC a letter, please include some general information that will assist us in determining how to best serve you, and that will aid ARC with their advocacy efforts. Please answer the following questions: • • •
Are you serving a determinate sentence, serving a life sentence, or a life without the possibility of parole sentence? Are you returning home due to SB 394, SB260, SB261, AB 1308, SB 1391, SB 1437, AB 965 or Prop. 57? Have you had a suitability hearing? If so, how many have you had?
Also please keep ARC updated if you happen to transfer out of your current institution. This will ensure you continue to receive the ARC quarterly newsletter.
Submit to our Newsletter! We want you to contribute to our next newsletter and submissions are now open! Tell us what inspires you, what your goals are, what gives you hope, or anything you would like to share with our community! Feel free to also write your commentary on public life or what’s happening in the world at large. Please write to us at ATTN: Newsletter Submission, 1320 E. 7th Street, Suite 260, Los Angeles, CA 90021. Write the name you would like to be published under. Submissions may also be posted on the ARC website. Please note that your submission is not guaranteed publication. We look forward to reading your work!
Learn How You and Your Family Can Get Involved The bills that ARC and other community-based groups throughout California are supporting this year are significant in that they help provide many of you with chances to return to your families, remove barriers to your employment once you return home, and ensure that young people never enter the juvenile / criminal justice systems. California legislators need to know that these bills are extremely important to their constituents. One of the ways that you can help these bills become reality is to encourage your families to contact their representatives and voice their support. They can find out who their representatives are by using the following website: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Once they find out who their representatives are, they simply have to contact them and voice their support. Your family members, loved ones and friends can contact their representatives through phone calls and social media, as well. Please encourage your friends and loved ones today!
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