Passed by both the California Assembly and Senate, AB 2527, the “Dignified Care of Incarcerated Pregnancy Act,” will soon face a final decision from Governor Gavin Newsom. One significant amendment in the final hours cost the...
California Bill Watch
New CA Justice Bills for 2024
In the first two months of 2024, California lawmakers have introduced new noteworthy criminal...
CA Attorney General Issues Guidelines for Prosecutors to Implement Race-blind Charging
In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill, AB 2778, meant to reduce racial bias in...
New Laws Part 5 – Crime and Courts
This fall, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed and vetoed hundreds of bills. As the new year...
New Laws Part 4: Help for Victims
In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom made the final call on what remained of hundreds of...
New Laws Part 3: Youth Justice
In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed and vetoed the last of hundreds of bills...
New Laws Part 2: Governor Signs and Vetoes Policing Bills
In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed — and vetoed — the last of hundreds of...
New Laws Part 1: Conditions Inside Prisons and Jails
During the first two weeks of October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed and rejected the...
Solitary Confinement Reform and Other Bills May Get a Second Chance in 2024
California Governor Gavin Newsom has until the end of October 14 to sign and veto hundreds of bills...
CA bill would shift restitution from juveniles to State
If approved, payments would be made by state's Victim Compensation Board.
CA Bill Would Limit the Criminalization of Survivors of Abuse and Trafficking
More than one-third of women in California have experienced domestic violence. For women in prison...
Policing Bills to Watch This Legislative Season
Starting in March, a handful of important California policing bills hot from the printer landed in...
Bill Seeks Increased Media Access to Prisons and Incarcerated Interviewees
In 1994, then-California Governor Pete Wilson signed a bill giving the state prison system more...
New Year, New Laws
A list of 10 justice laws that will activate on January 1.
Yes, Slavery Is on the Ballot in These States
Editor’s Note: California banned slavery in 1850, two years before the Thirteenth...
College requirements for police forces can save Black lives, but may increase arrest rates
Editor’s Note: On January 1, 2022, Ab 89, the Peace Officers Education and Age Conditions for...
Survivors Call on CA Legislators to Expand Access to Victim Compensation to Include Families Impacted by Violent Police Encounters
Victims and advocates are urging California legislators to pass a bill meant to ensure that the...
Racial Justice & Pedestrian Safety Fuel Jaywalking Debate, while CA has new bill to decriminalize low risk jaywalking
by Jenni Bergal of Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts. For nearly a...
Governor Signs Bill to Eliminate Sex Work Loitering Law for Which Police Disproportionately Arrest Black People
Under a newly signed bill, police in California will no longer be able to enforce a section of the...
Bills for Crime Victims Gather Support
On Friday, April 29, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced his support for seven bills...
Bills Aim to Open Doors to Housing and Employment for Formerly Incarcerated Californians
Pathways to permanent housing California lawmakers are currently considering a handful of bills...
“Gate Money” Bill Would Significantly Increase Assistance for Californians Returning Home From Prison
In California, people leaving prison each receive $200 as a release allowance, known as “gate...
San Jose, CA, Enacts Nation’s 1st Firearm Insurance Requirement
San Jose, California, has become the first city in the country to require gun owners to have...
Bill to decertify police for serious misconduct clears Legislature & is headed for Newsom’s desk
The state is poised to join most of the country when it comes to disciplining the worst of the...
Fired: Latest news on California bill aiming to decertify police for serious misconduct
California is one of only four states without the power to permanently remove law enforcement...
Much Watched Bill to Decertify Police for Misconduct and Killings Makes it Out of the Suspense File and is Passed in the Senate
On May 26, the California Senate passed SB 2, a bill intended to keep officers found to have...
CA Bill Could Bring Freedom to Cross the Street Without Fear of Criminalization for “Jaywalking”
Black Californians are up to 4.5 times more likely to be stopped for jaywalking than their white...
CA Bill to “Sunset” Old Convictions Approved by Senate Public Safety Committee, LA County Supes May Also Vote to Support the Bill
Next week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion from Supervisors...
Can California fix long waits in jail? These new bills may help
At least 1,300 unsentenced criminal defendants have been locked in California's county jails for...
CA Lawmakers and LA’s District Attorney Announce Bill to Eliminate “Third Strike” Sentence Enhancements for Crimes Committed by Minors
On Friday, April 9, California Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), Los Angeles County...