The incarcerated population has been largely determined by factors of race, class, and gender. While African Americans make up only about 13% of the U.S. population, Blacks constitute nearly 40% of those in prisons and jails. Hispanics are about a 14% of the general population, yet they are about 22% of those incarcerated. People in prisons and jails represent the poorest, most marginalized members of the U.S.
In 1994, CA passed a Three Strikes Law as part of the “tough on crime” legislation in the mid-90s. The law prescribed much longer sentences for people with prior convictions, including a mandatory life sentence for people with two prior felonies.
SURJ Contra Costa County has been invited to partner with SURJ Bay Area in a statewide campaign to “Repeal 3 Strikes.” SURJ Bay Area member Josh Selo will present how you can participate in this campaign for a ballot initiative to help reunite families, reduce mass incarceration and reallocate state funding to invest in making communities safer.
Get your FREE ticket by 8:30 AM on Saturday, October 2, and the zoom link will be sent to you that morning around 9:00 AM.
If you have any questions please email: surjccc@gmail.com