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

Please VOTE for Kim Carter for 2015 CNN Hero of the Year!

Dear Friends,

I am overwhelmed by the gratefulness I am feeling right now. I am so blessed to be clean and sober and recognizing that my only purpose in life is to fight for others that have been through the same injustices as I have experienced.

On October 8th CNN selected me and my organization, Time for Change Foundation, for the work we do to help others. To be chosen as a 2015 Top 10 CNN Hero from 50,000 nominations across the world we sit here humbled and awestruck.

But it doesn’t stop here. To reach the grand prize of $100,000 that will help us to continue our mission we NEED YOUR HELP to get the most votes!

You can VOTE by clicking the link below and you can VOTE ONCE a day EVERY DAY until November 15th.

VOTE4KIM

I just want to thank God, for giving me a second chance at life and using me to help fight for others! For those of you who don't know my story, I'm a miracle! Devastated by crack addiction, incarceration and homelessness for years and to suddenly be reborn and purposeful is a blessing.

Thank you to everyone that has fought this fight with me in solidarity! I know I didn’t come this far without you.

Please cast your votes, share that you voted, and ask others to do the same!


Thank you!

Kim Carter

Executive Director

Time for Change Foundation

Reach International Gender Responsive Conference

Count Down to Conference FEATURING Special Guest Kim Carter

On September 23rd, Reach will be hosting the First Inaugural Conference on Gender-Responsiveness in Richmond, California.  To promote this event, our newsletter will highlight a different conference presenter throughout the entire month of September.     This first week, we are honored to present a publication that highlights our Conference Guest Speaker, the Founder and Executive Director of the Time for Change Foundation, Ms. Kim Carter. She was recently named a 2015 CNN Hero for the services she provides to both homeless and formerly incarcerated women.  Read the article below:

2015 CNN Hero 

Published: Time for Change 

August 27, 2015 

Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) under the leadership of Kim Carter has been named a 2015 CNN Hero!  The CNN Heroes initiative is a year-long initiative that honors everyday people for their selfless, creative efforts to help others.  The campaign is now in its ninth year.  In the past eight years, CNN Heroes has received more than 50,000 nominations from more than 100 countries.  Since 2007, the campaign has profiled more than 200 CNN Heroes.  They're working in more than 80 countries around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of people.

"We are most humbled by this prestigious international recognition and realize that it has truly been a joint effort in this region to address the societal issues that homeless women and children encounter.   Based on my experience working at TFCF, after having been a successful graduate of the TFCF program, when I think of Kim Carter it reminds me of the 'little engine that could' ... All the people that we serve and the people whose lives this agency touches leave knowing that they too have the ability to strive for seemingly insurmountable goals." commented Nicole Wolfe, Communications Coordinator at TFCF.

"I'm happy that CNN is shining an International spotlight on our organization." says Phyllis Scott, TFCF Case Manager.

Kim Carter, Founder and Executive Director of TFCF stated, "I am so grateful that I answered God's call on my life.  My homelessness, substance abuse and incarceration experiences fuel my passion to help others succeed.  It's that calling that started Time for Change Foundation."

It is Kim’s belief that by providing these women with training and the opportunity to develop life skills, in a nurturing and supportive environment, they will become independent, active, participants in their communities. In addition to being the conference's guest speaker, Ms. Carter is also a Soul Panelist for the event. 

To be redirected to the interview of Kim Carter conducted by CNN, click here

Please Endorse One of Our Own!

The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) plays a monumental role in all aspects of the criminal justice system. It works in partnership with local corrections systems and assists efforts to achieve continued improvement in reducing recidivism through evidence- based decision making in the State of California. 

This July 1st, committee positions will be up for appointment and we're asking for you to endorse Kim Carter's appointment to the BSCC!

Please sign and send the attached sample letter on your organization's letterhead ASAP to each of the following representatives:

Honorable Toni Atkins

Speaker of the Assembly 

State Capitol 

P.O. Box 942849 

Sacramento, CA 94249-0078 

Via Fax: (916) 319-2178

Honorable Chris Holden

Majority Floor Leader of the Assembly 

State Capitol 

P.O. Box 942849 

Sacramento, CA 94249-0041 

Via Fax: (916) 319-2141

Honorable Reggie Jones-Sawyer

Legislative Black Caucus Chair of the Assembly

State Capitol 

P.O. Box 942849 

Sacramento, CA 94249-0059 

Via Fax: (916) 319-2159

For more information about Kim Carter and Time for Change Foundation please visit 

www.timeforchangefoundation.org.