Here’s how jail-based health treatment failed my family: Guest commentary

As the child of a formerly incarcerated person, I’ve lived with the consequences of a failed law-enforcement system that believes jails can be places for rehabilitative treatment and care. This illusion eventually cost my dad his life.

My dad was a poor man of color raised in the smallest city in Los Angeles County. He served long sentences for drug-related crimes and parole violations. Being locked up exacerbated his existing physical and mental health issues. There were no services to greet him at the gate when he was released, and so imprisonment became law enforcement’s version of treatment. When he tried to find a job and a home, he was rejected at every turn because of his felony record.

At a meeting in Sacramento earlier this month, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), a small board dominated by law-enforcement officials, appointed the chairs of the committee who will recommend where to spend the millions of dollars of savings generated through Proposition 47, the law passed one year ago that reclassifies certain low-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. Sixty five percent of this money must be allocated to diversion, mental health, and substance use treatment programs, giving California an opportunity to improve health outcomes for thousands of families.

But at that same meeting, despite testimonials from dozens of community members like myself whose lives have been harmed by incarceration, the BSCC voted to allocate $500 million in jail construction funds to counties across the state. Given that many of these new jail projects are being promoted as mental health treatment centers, sheriffs may soon be lining up to make the case for needing Prop. 47 funds to run these facilities. Awarding funds to expand jails makes no sense when national conversations have turned toward reducing jail populations.

The committee appointed by the BSCC to direct spending of Prop. 47 funds has the power to ensure that those savings go to treatment and care in the community, changing the culture surrounding substance use and mental health. This is the approach that finally worked for my dad.

When my dad was released for the last time in 2007, it was support from other formerly incarcerated people also grappling with substance-use and mental health conditions that helped him stay out of jail. He found his way to Homes for Life, a community-based organization in Southern California providing affordable housing and counseling for homeless and mentally-ill people. Living in a caring community empowered him to enroll in Long Beach City College’s Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling degree program. It is bittersweet knowing that my dad didn’t find the resources he needed until he was 50 because society prioritizes punishment over healing.

Driving home to Southern California from Oakland this past spring, I prepared myself to see my dad for the first time in 20 years. It would also be the last time. I wept reflecting on 20 years of lost opportunities for our family because a poor brown man’s health conditions made him a criminal.

The real crime is the failure of law enforcement to know the difference between health care and incarceration. There is no happy ending to our story. My dad died without realizing his capacity to be a father and contribute to his community. I only find solace knowing he left this world trying to be the best person he could be.

My dad’s story is not exceptional. Families and neighborhoods continue to be torn apart by the same system that claims keeping communities safe means building more cages for people, when what they really need is comprehensive health care not administered by law enforcement.

Instead of accepting money for new jails, counties should reject the funding and give people with mental health and substance use conditions what my dad didn’t get: a fair chance at health, and a fair chance at life.

Angela Aguilar is a masters in public health candidate and a doctoral student in ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
Via: http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20151124/heres-how-jail-based-health-treatment-failed-my-family-guest-commentary

California Funds New Prisons Despite Prop 47 Passage to Reduce Inmates

California officials voted on Thursday to divert US$500 million to open new jails, replacing jail beds with medical and mental health beds. Criminal justice and civil rights activists protested the decision, which counters the purpose of the popular Proposition 47, passed last year to re-classify low-level felonies to misdemeanors and redirect funds to reduce recidivism.

“Californians didn't vote for Prop 47 so that we could reduce prison populations just to begin building new jails,” said Kim Carter, executive director of Time for Change Foundation, in a press release from Californians United for a Responsible Budget. According to Carter, the Board of State and Community Corrections, responsible for the vote, “should take the money they want to spend on jails and build some affordable housing,” she said, adding that “Reducing recidivism and increasing public safety means people need access to housing and jobs, not jail beds."

Prop. 47 aims to reduce prison populations in a state with severe overcrowding, designating extra funds to programs like "school truancy and dropout prevention, victim services, mental health and drug abuse treatment." At the same meeting, the BSCC began forming a committee to decide the distribution of Prop. 47 funds. Activists against jail expansion submitted their 14 candidates, all formerly incarcerated experts on substance use treatments, reentry programming, housing and mental health treatment. Currently the BSCC is largely made up of opponents of Prop. 47.

Though the BSCC announced that it would fund the new jail projects with funds from another bill, its administrative powers were expanded last month by Governor Jerry Brown. Proponents of Prop. 47 worry that it would look to using their own funds, and community members of the cities in question, spread across 15 countries, fear less funds for local social services.

Other states that passed similar laws have seen crime rates decrease, but a year into passing Prop. 47, crime rates vary across the state, according to a report released by the American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday. While some law enforcement authorities proposed innovative diversion programs, others escalated arrests to account for a perceived rise in petty crime. The report accounted for the differences in the priorities of officers and their departments.

The effects of Prop. 47 are too early to measure, but it is estimated to lower prison costs by US$150 million this fiscal year. The BSCC measure would eliminate 310 jail beds, but it would add 196 new ones, which some worry would not fulfill their definition of mental health treatment. This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address:

Via TeleSur http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/California-Funds-New-Prisons-Despite-Law-to-Reduce-Prison-Population-20151112-0039.html

Meet the Community's Prop 47 Executive Steering Committee Members

Yesterday the California Board of State and Community Corrections decided to waste $500 million on new jails, and nominate the chair for the ‪Prop47 ‬Executive Committee. Formerly incarcerated leaders from across the state are standing up for investing in care in the community not, cops and cages.

The Community's Prop 47 Funding Committee includes:
Darris Young & John from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
Dayvon Williams from Youth Justice Coalition
Deirdre Wilson from California Coalition for Women Prisoners
Dolores Canales from the Family Unity Network
Dorsey Nunn from Legal Services for Prisoners With Children
George Galvis from Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice
Jayda Rasberry from Dignity and Power Now
Jerry Elster from American Friends Service Committee
Kim Carter from Time for Change Foundation
Rosie Flores from California Partnership
Sammy Nunez from Fathers & Families of San Joaquin
Tracy Jones from Justice Now
Vonya Quarles from Riverside "All of Us or None"

Meet the Community's Prop 47 Executive Steering Committee 14 Proposed Members

The Proposition 47 Executive Steering Committee (ESC) is charged with directing 65% of the state’s savings to fund mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment and diversion programs. Historically, the process by which the agency creates ESC’s has lacked transparency and public engagement, resulting in committees that are often dominated by law enforcement. That’s why the community has put together our proposed slate of ESC members to guide Prop 47 reinvestment. This 14 member panel is comprised entirely of formerly incarcerated leaders from across California who are experts in substance abuse treatment, reentry programing, housing, and mental health treatment. These are experts that California needs to guarantee that savings are used to build the capacity of community-based programs that will support the communities most damaged by mass incarceration.

Via: http://ow.ly/UCthF 

Time for Change Foundation Celebrates the One Year Anniversary of Prop 47 Passage

November 4th marks one year since California voters passed Proposition 47, which gives thousands of people across the Inland Empire a chance to reduce low level felonies to misdemeanors. 

Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) has been working to ensure that this victory translates into real change for local families. This includes doing public education and outreach at two major events this week: the first at a Holiday Job Fair organized by Congressman Pete Aguilar's office on Friday, November 6th from 9am to 12pm and at the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches Health Fair on Saturday, November 7th from 10am to 2pm.

Earlier this year, Time for Change Foundation launched Creating Health Alternatives Mobilizing Prop 47 or CHAMP 47. People like Diane Sapp, resident of San Bernardino, have benefitted from a legal clinic that TFCF hosted in July and other informational events. "All of the felony convictions in my record held me back for several years," shares Diane. "It meant always submitting job applications and never hearing back." It wasn't until the July legal clinic when she was able to reduce 3 of her convictions, 2 drug related and 1 burglary related to misdemeanors. "I couldn't believe it finally happened. I was so happy because next I can file for a dismissal."

These record changes can help people in their job searches, securing apartments, receiving several professional licenses, student loans, and certain housing and government benefits so they can end generational cycles of incarceration.

In addition, Prop 47 ensures savings from lower incarceration at the state level and the county level will be spent on crime prevention and treatment for both drug addictions and the mentally ill. A study by Stanford Law's Justice Advocacy Project finds 4,454 state prisoners have been released since the law passed. The project also found that it will keep 3,300 offenders out of prison every year, saving the state $93.4 million a year. The savings for the additional number of county jail prisoner to be released translates to an estimated $203 million across the state.

The Prop 47 petition window for felony reductions ends in 2 years on November 4 2017. Those eligible should act now and visit www.Timeforchangefoundation.org for the petition toolkit.

Prop 47 Informational Booths at the Following Two Events

Holiday Job Fair

Friday, November 6th 9am - 12pm

Inghram Community Center

2050 N. Mt Vernon Ave., San Bernardino, CA

IECAAC Wellness and Resource Fair

Saturday, November 7th 10am - 2pm

New Hope Family Life Center

1505. W. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, CA



Time for Change Foundation provides essential resources through our programs and services to families who desire to change the course of their lives by making the transition from homelessness and recidivism to self-sufficiency. We accept all forms of donations; please call our office for more information at 909-886-2994 or visit us on the web at www.Timeforchangefoundation.org.

Via: http://www.highlandnews.net/news/political/article_742b6248-823d-11e5-9439-57b38ca59e1b.html 

Obama bans the box!

On Monday, President Obama is announcing a new order to reduce potential discrimination against former convicts in the hiring process for federal government employees.

It is a step towards what many criminal justice reformers call “ban the box” – the effort to eliminate requirements that job applicants check a box on their applications if they have a criminal record. While the rule was once seen as a common sense way for employers to screen for criminal backgrounds, it has been increasingly criticized as a hurdle that fosters employment discrimination against former inmates, regardless of the severity of their offense or how long ago it occurred. Banning the box delays when employers learn of an applicant’s record.

Obama is unveiling the plan on a visit to a treatment center in New Jersey, a state where Republican Gov. Chris Christie signed a ban the box bill into law last year. Hillary Clinton endorsed ban the box last week, while Republican Sen. Rand Paul also introduced similar federal legislation, with Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, to seal criminal records for non-violent offenders.

The White House says it is “encouraged” by such legislation in a new statement, but emphasizes the president’s order will take immediate action, mandating that the federal government’s HR department “delay inquiries into criminal history until later in the hiring process.”

President Obama spoke to several federal prisoners about that very approach in July, when he was the first sitting president to visit an American prison.

“If the disclosure of a criminal record happens later in a job application process,” he told them, “you’re more likely to be hired.” Obama described what many studies show – that when many employers see the box checked for an applicant’s criminal record, they weed them out without ever looking at their qualifications.

“If they have a chance to at least meet you,” the president continued, “you’re able to talk to them about your life, what you’ve done, maybe they give you a chance.”

About 60-to-75% of former inmates cannot find work within their first year out of jail, according to the Justice Department, a huge impediment to re-entering society.

Research shows the existence of a criminal record can reduce an employer’s interest in applicant by about 50%, and that when white and black applicants both have records, employers are far less likely to call back a black applicant than a white one. As a 2009 re-entry study in New York city found, “the criminal record penalty suffered by white applicants (30%) is roughly half the size of the penalty for blacks with a record (60%).”

Obama’s move also comes in the wake of a growing movement for criminal justice reform – from broad calls by groups like Black Lives Matter to a specific campaign on ban the box that ranged from half the Senate Democratic caucus to civil rights groups to artists like John Legend.

On Monday, Legend told MSNBC, “We applaud the President’s decision to end this unfair bias against people who have served their time and paid their debt to society. We hope that Congress and state legislatures across the country will follow suit.”

The President is announcing several other measures Monday, including public housing and money for re-entry programs, and he is speaking about prison reform in a speech and an exclusive interview with NBC Nightly News Anchor Lester Holt.

Via: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-bans-the-box