A pesar de los aumentos sustanciales en los gastos de justicia penal durante las últimas tres décadas, la mayoría de los sobrevivientes de crimen no reciben apoyo para recuperarse de los daños. El gasto estatal en servicios a las víctimas representa aproximadamente el 1 por ciento de lo que el estado gasta en el sistema penitenciario. En otras palabras, California gasta casi 80 veces más en prisiones que en servicios para víctimas de crimen.
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Millions of Old Conviction and Arrest Records Have Been Expunged Under Unprecedented State Law, DOJ Says
New Data Released This Week Represents Largest Mass Expungement of Old Conviction and Arrest Records in Such a Short Period of Time in Nation’s History FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2023 CONTACT: Will Matthews, Californians for Safety and Justice,... Read MoreNew Public Education Campaign Asks: What Makes You Feel Safe?
Californians for Safety and Justice Campaign Counters Recent Rise in Tough-on-Crime Rhetoric That Threatens to Return California to Failed Approaches of the Past OAKLAND, Calif. – Californians for Safety and Justice, the state’s leading public safety advocacy organization, announced... Read MoreCalifornians for Safety and Justice Says Gov. Newsom’s Proposed Budget Affirms Commitment to Addressing Rising Crime Rates Through Sustained Investments in Re-Entry and Victim Support Services
Proposed 2023 Budget Contains Tens of Millions to Expand Community Re-Entry Programs, Services to Support Healing for Victims and Community Violence Intervention Programs; Prop. 47 Continues to Save More Than $100 million Annually SACRAMENTO – Californians for Safety and Justice,... Read MoreFeatured Video
The Truth About Crime and Incarceration
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Despite substantial increases in criminal justice expenditures over the past three decades, the majority of crime survivors do not receive support to help them recover from harm. State spending on victim services represents about 1 percent of what the state spends on the prison system. In other words, California spends nearly 80 times more on prisons than on services for crime victims.
The estimates in Getting Back to Work: Revamping the Economy by Removing Past Records show that at a minimum, California loses $20 billion from the state economy as a result of policies that disenfranchise potential workers with past conviction records. But this is just the tip of the iceberg — these statistics leave out many of the ways old records limit individuals’ employment, and California’s economic potential.
California is at a crossroads. In the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis, looming massive deficits, and new calls for lawmakers to design a more racially equitable justice system. Prison spending is expected to hit an all-time high of $13 billion this year. Now more than ever, policymakers must take bold steps to reverse the decades-old trend of over- incarceration.