Peoples’ lives are changing and our communities are safer through a restorative approach to justice in Orange County.
Could we help protect these programs?
We all want to feel safe, whether we’re in our homes with our families, in our communities, or on our streets. Safety is the foundation to keep our families thriving, and our communities at peace.
This November, voters in California have a choice to make about the best ways to keep our communities safe.
A decade ago, we, the voters in California, passed a law to redirect funding from prisons to instead invest in more effective safety measures like drug and mental health treatment, and funding for homelessness prevention and housing. (Proposition 47)
In Orange County, programs like Project Kinship and Conexiones were started in collaboration with the Board of Supervisors and School Districts across Orange County to help lives impacted by incarceration, gangs and violence, at-risk youth and young adults. The holistic support provided includes counseling, a process of healing, mental health, legal consultation, family support, wellness, housing and job training. Project Kinship works with the school districts of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Brea, Cerritos, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.
Studies have shown that these programs change peoples’ lives, prevent drug addiction and falling into cycles of crime, and ensure everyone in our communities stay safe.
Raymond’s Story
Growing up, Raymond was shot as a result of gang violence and struggled with domestic violence at home. His only support network were other young people in gangs. He was jailed, but instead of falling into a cycle of crime, he received employment support at Project Kinship, a Prop. 47 funded program in Orange County, and now works at Project Kinship helping other youth find the support they need.
But this year, we are being asked to vote on Proposition 36. Prop 36 will re-classify petty crimes like shoplifting and drug possession as felonies, and increase prison time for people convicted of such crimes.
Because more money would be used towards keeping people in prisons, Prop 36 would take away $100 million a year from rehabilitation and crime prevention programs, including more than $15 million from programs in Orange County.
Prop. 36 isn’t the answer. We must reject “tough on crime” culture war and failed policies of the past that keep prison beds full, our communities in fear, and none of us any safer.
Instead, our communities need real, proven solutions like investing in good schools, affordable housing, and treatment for mental health and drug addiction.
We can prevent crime before it happens by ensuring our local government invests not in sending more people to prison, but in getting guns off our streets, ensuring good jobs for all, and youth programs that open doors of opportunity for our next generation.
Vote No on Proposition 36.
Don’t return California to its worst days of ineffective and expensive mass incarceration, and a time when we had fewer tools to keep our communities safe.
Another reason we should be showing up to vote is to secure homes for everyone in California:
What does Proposition 36 do?
Prop 36 sets harsher penalties for repeat theft and drug possession or distribution.
Key Supporters
- California District Attorneys Association
- Walmart
- California Business Roundtable
Key Opponents
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
- Governor Gavin Newsom
