Proposed Concurrence on Criminal Justice

Proposed Concurrence on Criminal Justice

Police station, Beverly Hills, California
Type: 
Research & Studies

From the LWV members on the Criminal Justice group:

We are proposing that the LWVC adopt a new position on Criminal Justice via concurrence, and ask that your local League review this position during your upcoming Program Planning meeting.  We hope that your local League will recommend that the LWVC adopt the position. 

 A statewide task force worked with LWVC President Helen Hutchison, LWVC Vice President for Advocacy and Program Joanne Leavitt, and LWVC Government Director Lee Lawrence, in developing the attached LWC Criminal Justice Position for concurrence.

 For more on the LWVC concurrence procedure, see http://archive.lwvc.org/lwvonly/docs/program-planning-2017-19-policy-P-12-on-concurrence.pdf.

 BACKGROUND

For almost 100 years the League has remained vital and relevant by striving for an equitable society, studying its profound injustices and advocating for effective remedies.  One of the most compelling issues of our time is criminal justice reform.  Policing, sentencing, and incarceration are too often failing to serve justice or improve public safety.

 It has become clear that LWVC needs a comprehensive position on criminal justice. 

 There is a growing bipartisan consensus that our criminal justice system needs reform.  California's proposed budget contains almost $15 billion for corrections during fiscal year 2018-2019.   Billions more are spent on public safety in California cities and counties.  The victims of destructive policies are overwhelmingly poor and people of color.  Thirty percent of incarcerated individuals are African American males, while they make up only 6% of California’s population. 

 OUR PROCESS

At the 2017 LWVC convention, there was significant interest in pursuing a criminal justice position. This led us to talk about what we -- local Leagues, League members, the LWVC -- could do.   We researched criminal positions of other state and local Leagues across the country. We talked extensively with other organizations active in criminal justice policy work. Based on this research, we developed the attached position that we propose be adopted by the 2019 LWVC convention by concurrence. 

 WHAT’S NEXT

Once the LWVC adopts this Criminal Justice Position, local Leagues will be able to engage in the process of education and advocacy in your community with respect to policing, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry. We will also be able to influence our state elected officials as they craft effective legislation for criminal justice reform.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon Background document for proposed position181.98 KB
PDF icon Proposed Criminal Justice position119.88 KB
League to which this content belongs: 
Diablo Valley