
Please help us at El Cerrito Progressives stop the unnecessary expansion of the West (Contra Costa) County Jail by taking 3 minutes to send a few emails (sample letter below).
- If you have 10 minutes to spare for justice, please also call the numbers below using the talking points in the sample letter.
- If you have 20 minutes please write, call and send snail mail letters to the people below.
Note: The grants for jail construction funds were due on February 28 and the grants are being reviewed now.
The East Bay Times link below provides an excellent background on the issue.
BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUE
John Gioia-Jane Fischberg-Claudia Jimenez Commentary
Contra Costa Needs More Prevention, Not More Jail Cells
Quotes from Public Meeting Attendees
Tempers Flare Over Proposed $95 Million West County Jail Expansion
CONTACT INFORMATION
Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC)
2590 Venture Oaks Way Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 445-5073
constructionprogram@bscc.ca.gov (general email for the department)
Construction Financing Department
Robert Oates
Project Director III (CFC)
(916) 445-5806
robert.oates@bscc.ca.gov
Kenneth Fitzpatrick
Project Director II (CFC)
(916) 445-6027
kenneth.fitzpatrick@bscc.ca.gov
Michael Scott
Project Director II (CFC)
(916) 341-7327
michael.scott@bscc.ca.gov
Oscar Villegas
Field Representative (CFC)
916-445-3146
oscar.villegas@bscc.ca.gov
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear BSCC Construction Program,
I am writing as a resident of _________, concerned about the proposed expansion of the West (Contra Costa) County Detention Facility in Richmond, CA. Please DO NOT grant funds for the expansion of our county detention facility.
We need investments in affordable housing, job training, and youth services to prevent people from being incarcerated. We also need to reform our bail system, expand substance abuse treatment and the Behavioral Health Court. We DO NOT need or want funds for 416 new high security beds.
From the commentary by John Gioia, Jane Fischberg and Claudia Jimenez in the East Bay Times 2/14/17:
The Prison Law Office, a well-respected nonprofit public interest law firm specializing in jail system reform, wrote to the Board of Supervisors that “The county would better serve its population by expanding efforts to reduce the jail population instead of expanding the capacity of its jails.”
“Also, the sheriff can create capacity in the West County jail instead of building new cells. Nearly 200 individuals are being held for possible deportation at the West County jail under a sheriff’s contract with the U.S. Department of Justice to house ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainees. That’s 20 percent of the jail’s capacity that could be used to meet the county’s needs, not the federal government’s.
Contra Costa is the only Bay Area county with such a contract. This cooperation with ICE should end. It erodes our hard-working immigrant community’s trust in local law enforcement and county government.”
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,