BUILDING COMMUNITY:
INSIDE AND OUT

MONTHLY
Community Defenders Legal Clinics – 2nd Saturdays & 2nd Sundays

• 2nd Saturday of the month 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
  Consultations for current criminal and juvenile cases, post-conviction options, including commutations, pardons and parole hearing prep, record sealing and expungements, immigrations
• 2nd Sunday of the month 1:00 pm – Meeting for Lifers’ families and friends

LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY DEFENDER LEGAL CLINICS

QUARTERLY
Parole & Commutation Preparation Workshops

ONGOING
Comprehensive Re-entry Resource Fairs

ACTION ALERTS!

Call to Support/Appreciation Campaign
for Governor Newsom

Hi friends,

We’re amplifying a proposal from advocate Dortell Williams to run a one-week Clemency Appreciation Campaign thanking the Governor for recent August commutations.

The Ask:

• Send one email of thanks to the Governor’s Legal Affairs office: commutations@gov.ca.gov.
  (Do this by Wednesday, September 10, 2025)
• Encourage your networks (staff, volunteers, family members, and loved ones inside) to do the same.
• Share why these commutations matter to you personally or professionally, and express hope that more will be considered.

Why this is important:

• Leaders are human: appreciation encourages continued courage.
• A visible wave of thanks shows that commutations are politically safe, even post-Prop 36.
• It signals: we see you, we agree, and we have your back.

Here’s a copy-and-paste email template (feel free to personalize it):

To: commutations@gov.ca.gov
Subject: Thank you for recent clemency decisions

Dear Legal Affairs Team,

I’m writing to thank the Governor for the recent August commutations. These actions reflect courage, fairness, and a commitment to second chances.

From my perspective as [family member / advocate / community member / professional role], I have seen how commutations reunite families, support healing, and strengthen public safety by recognizing growth and accountability.

Thank you for this leadership. I hope you will continue to consider more petitions in the months ahead.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[City, State]

Help us amplify!

• Forward this message to 3 or more people.
• Ask loved ones inside to have family members send a note of thanks as well.
• Thank you for taking five minutes to make a difference this week.

With appreciation, and thanks to the Felony Murder Elimination Project for sharing their message

TAKE ACTION! Please download this
Toolkit document [PDF] for use in support of SB 94.

SB 94, Judicial Review of Old Sentences, authored by California State Senator Dave Cortese, would create rigorous sentencing review for some individuals serving life without parole for offenses committed before June 6, 1990, and who have served at least 25 years of their sentence. Courts will review evidence of mitigating factors and rehabilitation, and judges will have the discretion to leave the sentence unchanged or to resentence the person with parole eligibility.

Contents of the Toolkit include news resources, links to downloadable graphics and fact sheets, and actionable tasks such as where to send letters of support and whom to call, as well as useful wording for social media posts.

More information about Senate Bill 94 on the Legiscan.com website

CLICK HERE TO SIGN ON TO OUR LETTER ASKING GOVERNOR NEWSOM
TO COMMUTE ALL LWOP SENTENCES IN CALIFORNIA

 Write Letters, Join a Campaign, Come to an Event!

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(scroll down to our contact info below)