June 2, 2019 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Regulations and Policy Management Branch P.O. Box 942883 Sacramento CA 94283-0001
To Whom It May Concern, We are writing to you from Silicon Valley De-Bug, an organization that works with families with loved ones who are facing charges in the criminal justice, juvenile justice, and immigration systems to impact the outcomes of their cases through their active participation in their loved ones’ court cases. Our organization is part of a larger coalition of organizations who supported Proposition 57, from its conception to passage, from drafting to signature gathering, door knocking, and fundraising. We are a co-author of Proposition 57. In addition, partner organizations from the Participatory Defense Network across the state of California are also signing on to this letter. Silicon Valley De-Bug is commenting for the final period once again. Below are our comments. Immediate parole considerations for all individuals convicted of non-violent felonies and who are serving their sentences beyond the base terms of their prior offense. We could not help but to take notice that Prop 57 is still not fully implemented to all nor to the fullest intent of the initiative. For example, all individuals convicted of non-violent felonies who served their primary offense term were eligible for early parole consideration when Prop 57 passed in 2016. CDCR fought to delay implementation of the law, arguing that non-violent three strikers were not eligible. For two years, incarcerated individuals, their families, and justice advocates -- fought for CDCR to follow the law through litigation. Through the Edwards case, CDCR was then ordered to give parole consideration, but still delayed implementation again through CDCR’s two-tiered screening process. Another example is the case Tijue Adolphus Mcgee won last month when the Courts ruled that CDCR has no authority to deny individuals convicted of non-violent felonies early parole consideration due to in-custody conduct. Yet, with these court decisions, CDCR is still attempting to delay implementing the law. We have heard from individuals inside who have already served upward of 20 years and are being told by CDCR to wait until 12/31/2020 - making them by default, serve their 25 years before earning