Category: Updates

Justice Not Jails’ Faith and Race conference is intended to be informative, inspirational, and transformative—with the hope that we can become united across faith traditions, race, gender, and personal histories in search of envisioning concrete ways to systematically dismantle and abolish the prison industrial complex.

In addition to talks by Kelly Lytle Hernandez and Charlene Sinclair, the January 26 event will feature a film and two in-depth panel sessions:

Documentary Film: “The Real Background Check” by Tiffany Johnson

Returning Residents Panel: “In Their Own Voice”

• Lisa James, All of Us or None—Moderator
• Sequarier McCoy, All of Us of None
• Dirk Patterson, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Ambassador
• Angelique Evans, All of Us of None
• Rodriguez, Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Ambassador
• Phal Sok, Youth Justice Coalition

Beyond Bars Congregations Panel: “Faith Communities Accepting the Challenge”

• Troy F. Vaughn, Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership—Moderator
• Rabbi Adam Siegel, Biet T’Shuvah
• Marwa Rifahie, Esq., Council on American Islamic Relations-LA
• Nora Jacob, UrbanMission & Pomona Valley Reentry Coalition
• Pastor Cue Jn-Marie, The Row Church, Black Brown Clergy Community Coalition

Faith and Race:
Challenging the Culture of Criminalization
Saturday, January 26, 2019
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holman United Methodist Church
3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90018

To register: http://bit.ly/FaithandRace2019

For information, contact Rev. Larry Foy at lfoy@im4humanintegrigy.org

Cosponsors: All of Us or None • Amity Foundation • Beit T’Shuvah • Brave New Films • Council on American Islamic Relations – CAIR-LA • Fair Chance Project • Gailen & Cathy Reevers Community Center • LA Progressive • LA Filipino American United Church of Christ • LA Regional Re-entry Project (LARRP) • Lincoln Memorial UCC • National Religious Campaign Against Torture 8 UrbanMission • Ward AME

To All Justice Not Jails Supporters & Friends:

Earlier this month—on January 8—the cause of criminal justice reform in LA got a major boost when the LA County Board of Supervisors backed away from the absolutely terrible idea of building a new women’s jail in Lancaster and moving the 2,200 women inmates currently housed in Lynwood to a high desert location that is far removed from the women’s loved ones and that is also sorely lacking in needed services for the women.

But there is still another terrible idea on the table: building a huge new “mental health jail” in downtown Los Angeles. The so-called Consolidated Care Treatment Facility (CCTF) will cost so much to build and staff that community-based services for the mentally ill population would continue to be starved for funding. But it is also deeply immoral and counterproductive to try to “treat” mental illness in an incarceration facility. Justice Not Jails made this point at length in a newsletter published late last year.

If you are a clergy person, we know it’s a busy time. But this is an action you can take in 15 minutes and in the spirit of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose legacy we celebrate this month.

If you are not a clergy member but belong to a church, synagogue, or mosque, we urge you to ask your pastor, rabbi, or imam to write a letter on this urgent matter.

We show below the contact information for all five county supervisors. The same message can and should be sent to all five supervisors, as this is a matter of countywide concern.

Here is a sample email message (and feel free to use your own words in the message you send):

Dear Supervisor ______________________,

Everything we know about mental illness argues against attempting to treat the mentally ill in a jail facility. Standard security procedures along with the trained-in control behaviors of law enforcement personnel will always undermine best clinical practices in a jail setting. These procedures and behaviors will often even trigger mental health episodes that would not otherwise occur–and that would certainly not occur in a proper therapeutic environment.

For this reason, it is both immoral and unwise to move forward with constructing the CCTF. The vast sums required to build and staff it will ensure that community-based treatment of the mentally ill will continue to be starved for funding and that the worthy and promising efforts of LA County’s new Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) will fall short of their potential.

I am grateful that the Board is already rethinking its terrible plan to move women jail inmates to far-away Lancaster. It is my hope and prayer that you will likewise rethink and then drop an equally terrible plan to build a huge new mental health jail in downtown Los Angeles.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours truly,

Your Title and Name
Your House of Worship or Other Religious Affiliation
Your Street Address
Your Phone Number

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE SUPERVISORS:

To find your district, go here

• Sup. Hilda Solis 1st Dist. Rm. 856 (213) 974-4111 firstdistrict@bos.lacounty.gov
• Sup. Mark Ridley-Thomas 2nd Dist. Rm.866 (213) 974-2222 MarkRidley-thomas@bos.lacounty.gov
• Sup. Sheila Kuehl 3rd Dist. Rm. 82 (213) 974-3333 sheila@bos.lacounty.gov
• Sup. Janice Hahn 4th Dist. Rm. 822 (213)-974-4444 fourthdistrict@bos.lacounty.gov
• Sup. Kathryn Barger 5th Dist. Rm. 869 (213) 974-5555 kathryn@bos.lacounty.gov

Rev. Larry Foy
Justice Not Jails Coordinator

Contact Info:  310-857-4930; email: lfoy@im4humanintegrity.org

January 8 protest gathering:  Rally Against Toxic Women’s Jail

Get Ready for a Transformative Experience!

Justice Not Jails is please to announce that distinguished theologian/activist Dr. Charlene Sinclair with be joining distinguished UCLA historian Dr. Kelly Lytle Hernandez in setting the table for a day of interactive conversation and renewed commitment to dismantling all expressions of white supremacy. Dr. Sinclair will help us discern what faith communities are called to do in order to help finally realize Martin Luther King Jr.’s “revolution of values” while there is still time. Dr. Hernandez will help us uncover the often-hidden historical roots of the toxic white supremacy that sustains America’s racist criminal justice system and its equally racist treatment of immigrant communities of color.

The Faith and Race conference will also feature a panel of people directly affected by mass incarceration and a second panel of faith leaders who are leading the struggle to push back against racism in all its forms. All who attend will be able to offer their own perspectives and voice their own ideas for fighting back.

It all happens on Saturday, January 27th, 2019, at the Holman United Methodist Church in West Adams. All are welcome. Space is limited, and we urge you to register today to ensure that you can take part.