Welcome to the Weekend: June 5th, 2021
Below you will find Restorative Justice Events in our communities that may interest you:
***Urgent Ask: SB 81 Support Letters!***
TimeDone.org
Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ)
We need your support in the next few days! CSJ is co-sponsoring a bill authored by Senator Skinner, SB 81 Judicial Guidance on Sentence Enhancements. This important bill has been set for a policy committee hearing in Assembly Public Safety for Tuesday, June 15th. We need your help in getting support letters for this bill. The deadline for letters of support is Wednesday, June 9th. Please find attached the template support letter, fact sheet, and additional background information on the bill. Letters of support must be submitted here: Position Letter Portal by June 9th.
In addition, please forward your support letters to our Government Affairs Director, Anthony DiMartino at adimartino@safeandjust.org and Senator Skinner's staffer Diego Lopez at Diego.Lopez@sen.ca.gov. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Anthony.
SB 81 establishes that judges would only apply sentence enhancements when there is clear and convincing evidence that not using the enhancement would endanger the public. This bill will lead to judges dismissing enhancements in many cases.
SB 81 will put into law a recommendation from the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code's first annual report.
Thank you all for your support on this crucial justice reform bill and stay tuned for updates regarding SB 731, also known as Sunsets.
Much appreciation,--
Gilbert JohnsonCA Time Done Manager
Californians for Safety and Justice
1624 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland, 94612Phone: 323-613-9659
Email: GJohnson@safeandjust.org
Twitter: @SafeAndJustUSA; @SafeAndJust
SAMPLE LETTER - COPY AND PASTE
ORGANIZATION’S LETTERHEAD
DATE
The Honorable Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Sr.
Chair, Assembly Committee on Public Safety
California State Capitol, Room 2117
Sacramento, CA 94249-0059
California State Capitol, Room 2117
Sacramento, CA 94249-0059
RE: SB 81 (Skinner) Judicial Guidance on Sentence Enhancements – SUPPORT
Dear Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer:
Name of organization supports SB 81, which provides clear guidance on how and when judges may apply sentence enhancements.
A couple of sentences about your organization and why you support the bill.
California’s penal code has multiple sentence enhancements that can be added to a criminal charge. Sentence enhancements are not elements of the crime, they are additional circumstances that increase the penalty, or time served, of the underlying crime. While the application of an enhancement may appear straightforward, research reviewed last year by the Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code (CRPC) revealed inconsistency in their use.
Current law allows judges to dismiss sentencing enhancements “in furtherance of justice.” This standard lacks clarity and does not provide judges clear guidance on how to exercise this discretion. Data indicates that in about 20% of cases, judges chose not to apply sentence enhancements. Conversely, in about 80% of cases, individuals had their terms lengthened by sentence enhancements, in many cases with two, three or more enhancements assigned. Thus for committing the same crime, some individuals receive only the base sentence while others have five, ten or more years added to their time. Research examined by the CRPC revealed that sentence enhancements were applied disproportionately to women, minorities, and those exhibiting mental health issues. Many states have reformed sentence enhancement processes and provided more guidance, for example, by limiting the use of enhancements to convictions that occurred within 5 years.
Building on the California Rules of Court that guide judges in certain sentencing decisions, SB 81 establishes a presumption that judges would only apply sentence enhancements when there is clear and convincing evidence that not using the enhancement would endanger the public. By clarifying the parameters a judge must follow, SB 81 codifies a recommendation made by the CRPC to improve fairness in sentencing and help ensure that penalties more closely reflect the circumstances of the crime.
For these reasons, we respectfully request your support for SB 81.
Sincerely,
NAME
TITLE
Organization Name
Root & Rebound: Reentry Advocates
Artist Line-up! Voices for Justice: On Tribal Justice
Join Root & Rebound on June 10, 6:00pm - 8:00pm PT for Voices for Justice: On Tribal Justice, a fundraiser to support our work with Native communities!
Throughout the evening, we'll be raising awareness about Tribal Justice and centering Native American artists and activists to shine light on Indigenous peoples’ struggle with, and resilience in spite of, systemic violence and oppression perpetuated by the U.S. legal system.
Native men, women and youth are overrepresented at every stage of the criminal justice process, from arrest to sentencing, incarceration to reentry. Yet they are rarely front and center in conversations about criminal justice reform. That needs to change. And that is why Root & Rebound has worked with the Yurok Tribe and surrounding Northern California tribal communities to provide critical legal services for the last 5 years, create educational resources, and advocate together for systemic reform. Voices for Justice: On Tribal Justice aims to support this work, and to break the silence around the impact of the criminal legal system on Native communities.
RSVP
Food for the Soul: Old Skool Cafe is open Thursday - Saturday
Old Skool Cafe is a youth-run, jazz-themed supper club.
Breaking bread and building community together through food that satisfies hunger and soothes the soul.
Welcome! Old Skool Cafe is a faith-based, violence prevention program, that provides job training, employment and a second chance at life by way of a 1920’s speakeasy, jazz restaurant, run by at-risk, formerly incarcerated and foster care youth ages 16-22.
I hope you’ll come hungry and leave inspired!
~ Teresa Goines, Founder/CEO
HOURS
Thursday - Saturday
Onsite Dining, Curbside Pick-up & Delivery: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Onsite Dining, Curbside Pick-up & Delivery: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday Brunch: Brunch is back on June 19, 2021! Join us 12-3pm every Saturday.
1429 Mendell St | San Francisco | 415-822-8531 | contact@oldskoolcafe.org
Retreat for Crime Survivors | Recognizing God in our Healing Journey | A Day of Reflection and Healing | June 26, 2021 - Fresco, California
Starts: June 26 @ 8:00am
Ends: June 26 @ 4:00pm
Location: 43816 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers, CA 93271
On Saturday, June 26, a healing day retreat will be available for crime survivors. Please note that this retreat is hosted by a third party at St. Anthony Retreat Center. Follow retreat registration information on the flyer below.
Please click here to download the retreat flyer and application.
Breakfast with Us to support students in reentry) Inauguration Saturday, June 12, 2021
Who can attend
Restorative Justice Excell Network Monthly Breakfasts are open to anyone who wants to support scholarships for justice-involved students, get to know their stories, and build community.
More information, get your ticket here
Mark your Calendars! September 17, 2021
8th Annual Reentry Conference and Resource Fair
Who can attend
Justice-involved youth and adults; families with incarcerated loved ones, crime survivors, non-profit providers, advocates, volunteers working with incarcerated people; law enforcement professionals, probation and corrections staff; victim services; educational; religious and social institutions; department of justice agencies; health services; housing, education employers and legal rights organizations.
Free event
Admission, continental breakfast, lunch, parking
Non-Profits reserve your table
Register here
Restorative Justice Partner Events and Calendar
If your organization is hosting an event that is related to our Restorative Justice mission, we would love to help get the word out to our community. Relevant events should provide resources and support for justice-involved individuals, the incarcerated and their families, and/or to victims of crimes, specifically homicide.
This is new free service will serve members in our community and maintain unity among Restorative Justice partners, Submit an event.
Thank you!
Julio Escobar
The Archdiocese of San Francisco
Office of Human Life and Dignity
Restorative Justice Ministry, a ministry of presence
Restorative Justice Ministry, a ministry of presence
1 Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109
Office and Fax (415) 614-5572 | Cell (415) 244-5594 |