Crime Survivor Network Supports Public Health Approach to Safety That Reduces Prison Overcrowding to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2020

CONTACT:

Will Matthews, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, (909) 261-1398; [email protected]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, the nation’s largest network of survivors of crime that originated in California, applauded the plan announced on Tuesday by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to release 3,500 people from state prison. The plan seeks to stop the spread of COVID-19 by alleviating crowding in the state prison system. 

Under the plan set to go into effect over the next several weeks, the state will release 3,500 people serving sentences for non-violent offenses and who were already due to be released within the next 60 days.

The following can be attributed to Tinisch Hollins, California state director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice: 

“We support the decision of Gov. Newsom and CDCR to reduce overcrowding in state prisons as the pathway to prioritizing public health, protecting everyone from COVID-19 and advancing public safety. Over-incarceration that crowds out investments in the health of communities is the wrong approach that has continued for too long. We must commit to not only reducing spending on wasteful incarceration-focused approaches, but also increase funding support for the services that actually make communities healthier and safer, now and in the long-term.”

Contact Us



1624 Franklin Avenue
11th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

Tel: (510) 836-4700
Fax: (510) 836-4701