Network On Women In Prison

LSPC ORGANIZES COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ADVOCATES TO RELEASE INCARCERATED PEOPLE, TO RESTORE HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND TO REUNIFY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

ALL OF US OR NONE: MEMBERSHIP GREW IN 2021 TO 32 CHAPTERS NATIONWIDE WITH 12 CHAPTERS LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA. WE CONTINUED TO DISTRIBUTE SURVIVAL KITS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AS IN 2020. WE PARTNERED WITH FAITH IN ACTION TO SUPPORT THE EQUITABLE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, ENGAGING COMMUNITY TO COMPLETE 238 SURVEYS. ALL OF US OR NONE CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT, AND PROGRAM MATERIALS FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS. 10 CHAPTERS ARE ENGAGED IN OUR REJECT SLAVERY CAMPAIGN. OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZER, OSCAR FLORES WORKS WITH CHAPTER LEADERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO BUILD THEIR MEMBERSHIP BASE AND SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGNS. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO SURVEY OUR MEMBERS INSIDE FOR INPUT ON AN IN-CUSTODY CIVIL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM WE PLAN TO CREATE IN 2022. OUR FAMILY UNITY PROJECT CONDUCTED ONLINE TRAININGS AND CREATED NEW MANUALS TO HELP FAMILIES OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC AND ACCESS CARES ACT RELIEF. ORGANIZED THE COALITION FOR FAMILY UNITY AND CREATED A CAMPAIGN TO PASS AB 990 TO ESTABLISH FAMILY VISITATION RIGHTS, WHICH LED TO THE BILL PASSING BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE. IT WAS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR, BUT THE CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDED IN RAISING THE ISSUE ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND SPARKED SIMILAR CAMPAIGNS IN AOUON CHAPTERS IN SEVERAL OTHER STATES.IN ADDITION, LSPC OPERATES THE ELDER FREEMAN POLICY FELLOWSHIP, A POLICY AND ORGANIZING TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED TO LEARN GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, AND OTHER STRATEGIES TO RUN LOCAL AND STATE CAMPAIGNS.

LEGAL & POLICY PROGRAMS: OUR POLICY TEAM ATTENDED MEETINGS FOR LITIGATION, ASSEMBLY AND SENATE HEARINGS, WROTE SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION LETTERS, SIGNED ON TO ADMINISTRATIVE PETITIONS, ATTENDED BSCC HEARINGS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS, CONNECTED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE TO NAVIGATE PRISON CLOSURES AND TACKLING INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, CREATED WEBINARS PROVIDING PUBLIC EDUCATION ON TOPICS INCLUDING ABOLITION AND MASS INCARCERATION WITH GUESTS SUCH AS ANGELA DAVIS AND THE CALIFORNIA BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER. WE PARTICIPATED IN OVER 10 COALITIONS RANGING FROM FINANCIAL ADVOCACY THROUGH TO CHILD WELFARE.OUR ELDER FREEMAN POLICY FELLOWSHIPEMPLOYED6 FELLOWS THIS YEAROUR USUAL THREE FULL-TIME STAFF WERE JOINED BY THREE PART-TIME FELLOWS FROM THE UNDERGROUND SCHOLARS INITIATIVE AT U.C. BERKELEY. WE CREATED THE ABOLISH BONDAGE COLLECTIVELY CAMPAIGN AND SUCCESSFULLY PASSED RESOLUTIONS TO END OF VESTIGES OF SLAVERY AND STRUCTURAL RACISM IN SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND. WE HELD OUR 9TH ANNUAL QUEST FOR DEMOCRACY,ONLINE FOR THE SECOND YEAR, WITH 400 ATTENDEES AND PARTNERED WITH 25 ORGANIZATIONS, PROMOTED 22 PIECES OF LEGISLATION, AND CONDUCTED 55 LEGISLATIVE VISITS. OUR LEGAL TEAM CONDUCTED IMPACT LITIGATION, MONITORED SETTLEMENTS, AND PROVIDED TRAINING AND CONSULTATION TO QUALIFIED LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. OUR ATTORNEYS RESPONDED TO APPROXIMATELY 2000 LETTERS FROM INCARCERATED PEOPLE SEEKING LEGAL RESOURCE MANUALS AND OTHER INFORMATION.

FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS: LEGAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN PROVIDES SUPPORT TO 7 FISCALLY-SPONSORED PROJECTS WORKING ON A VARIETY OF CRIMINAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CHANGE ISSUES. SEVERAL CHAPTERS WORK ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES AROUND EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. IN ADDITION TO COALITION WORK WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. THE CA COALITION FOR WOMEN PRISONERS (CCWP) CONTINUES TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S PRISONS ADVOCATING FOR PAROLE RELEASE AS WELL AS MONITORING INADEQUATE HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE CA PRISON SYSTEM. CCWP ALSO PUBLISHES THE FIRE INSIDE NEWSLETTER THAT BEGAN PUBLICATION IN 1996 AND IS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS PUBLICATION IN THE COUNTRY DEDICATED TO WOMEN AND TRANSGENDER PRISONERS. CCWP WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE MUTUAL AID TO WOMEN PRISONERS IN 2021 AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 DONATION SUPPORT. THE PRISON ACTIVIST RESOURCE CENTER (PARC) CONTINUES TO DISTRIBUTE, FREE OF CHARGE OVER A THOUSAND RESOURCE MANUALS TO PRISONERS, FORMER PRISONERS AND FAMILIES, PROVIDING VALUABLE RESOURCE INFORMATION TO PEOPLE UPON RELEASE.