A Visual Timeline of COVID-19 in CDCR’s San Quentin
By Nikki Suzani, Julietta Bisharyan & Mella Bettag This visualization is created by the Covid In-Custody Project — an…
BSCC Gives CDCR $15m For Housing Newly-Released Individuals Due to COVID-19
(Dashboard updates daily – M-F) By Julietta Bisharyan & Mella Bettag CDCR Confirmed COVID-19 Cases and…
California Assemblymember Advocates for Cell Phones in Prisons
By Kelsey Kitzke LOS ANGELES – California Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager, whose district covers parts of Los Angeles,…
Legislation Introduced That Would End Mandatory Incarceration for Nonviolent Drug Offenders
Under current law, certain drug offenses in California carry with them mandatory jail and prison sentences. On…
This Week’s COVID-19 Timeline in State Prisons: 8,000 to be Released – Too Little, Too Late?
By Bella Mettag SAN FRANCISCO – As COVID-19 cases and death tolls continue to rise within state…
Medical Expert Calls for Immediate Decarceration of San Quentin Prisoners
By Taric Mansour Incarcerated people in San Quentin are searching for answers, as overcrowding and poor operating…
Police Records Made Public and 911 Calls Diverted: 2 Newly Proposed Bills Could Change California Policing Permanently
By Mella Bettag SACRAMENTO- The California State Senate Monday introduced two new police reform bills that could…
Senate Committee OKs New CA Measure to Prohibit ‘Snitch’ Testimony at Parole Hearings
By Ayanna Gandhi SACRAMENTO – A prison “snitch” would no longer be able to testify in parole…
Capitol Bill Would Classify Racist 911 Calls as ‘Hate Crime’
Vanguard Staff SACRAMENTO – Legislation has been introduced here that would “impose serious consequences” on those who…
Senator Skinner Announces Bill to Raise the Age to be Tried as an Adult
(From Press Release – Senator Skinner) – Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, announced today Senate Bill 889, which…
California Supreme Court Justice Announces Retirement; Newsom To Make First Appointment
By Danielle Silva On January 15, California Supreme Court Justice Ming W. Chin announced he will be…
Governor Newsom Expands Office of State Public Defender with $4 Million Budget Increase and $3.5 Million Annually Thereafter
By Danielle Silva Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a $4 million budget increase for 2020-2021 and $3.5…
Senator Skinner Applauds Gov. Newsom’s Budget for Plan to Close a State Prison
(From Press Release – Senator Skinner) – State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, issued the following statement today…
Private Prison Group Sues California over New Law
On Monday, a Florida corporation, GEO Group, filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging AB 32, a…
SB 1437 Ruled Constitutional by Appellate Court
By Danielle Eden C. Silva The Fourth District Court of Appeals, Division One Court of California, determined…
The Separation of Powers: Arguments over SB 1437 [Part 2]
By Danielle Silva Oral arguments for two Senate Bill 1437 cases delve into the constitutionality of redefining…
Crime and Punishment and Voter Intent: Constitutional Arguments over SB 1437 [Part 1]
By Danielle Silva Oral arguments for two Senate Bill 1437 cases delve into the constitutionality of redefining…
Commentary: Legalization of Pot Leads to Resumption of War on Drugs?
For years, civil libertarians have warned that the war on drugs have given license to police officers…
New Signed Legislation Benefits Those Jailed, Threatened with Jail and Those Who Have Paid for Crimes
By Crescenzo Vellucci Vanguard Capitol Bureau SACRAMENTO – California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a series of largely…
Governor Newsom Dismantles Cruel, Ineffective Sentence Enhancement
The Governor’s signature reins in an expensive and racially discriminatory one-year sentence enhancement that adds additional years…
