MARCH 2004 – Letters are needed in support of these bills:

Proposed Legislation to Reduce Prison Phone Costs

AB 230 would recognize that excessive rates resulting from the state commission for collect telephone calls from prisons has made it difficult, if not impossible, for inmates to remain in regular contact with family members and loved ones. The bill would assure that affordable telephone services are available for state prisoners and wards of the California Youth Authority. It provides that any contract for telephone services should be negotiated and awarded in a manner to provide for the lowest reasonable costs to wards and inmates, while meeting the costs of providing such services.

The most recent telephone services contract was awarded by DGS to MCI on February 2, 2002 and will expire on February 2, 2006. The contract calls for a fixed annual concession payment to the State of $26,106,300. The current contract rate at CDC for an in-state, long-distance phone call is $0.28 per minute with a $2.00 per call surcharge.

The bill is pending before legislative committees

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I hope all of you will take the time to attend this hearing on these very important bills.  We need to show support to Senator Gloria Romero on the media access bill.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2004

                                  PUBLIC SAFETY
                                 MCPHERSON, Chair
                        9:30 a.m. - California Room (4203)
                         BILLS WILL BE HEARD IN FILE ORDER

S.B. No.   1164 Romero. Media access to prisoners.
S.B. No.   1314 Ortiz. Criminal history information. (Urgency)
S.B. No.   1385 Burton. Battering and its effects.
S.B. No.   1388 Ortiz. Criminal history information.

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A Better Chance for Parole:

Senator John Vasconcellos has graciously agreed to author a bill that would amend Section 3041 of the Penal Code, the parole statute. The bill, SB-1522 would help restore integrity into the parole process and require that the Board adhere to a burden of proof that is consistent with the plain language of the statute. The bill would not allow BPT to deny parole unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the inmate poses an unreasonable risk of danger to the community if released.

The bill would also require a court reviewing a panel's decision to determine if it is supported by clear and convincing evidence in the record. 
It is anticipated that the first amended version will be in print shortly, and, at that time, may be co-authored. We need to generate support for this bill now! 

We are urging everyone, and we mean down to the last man and woman in or out of prison who understands the need for strengthening the bill, to campaign to support it.  This year may be our one shot to get this statute strengthened. We need unified support like we have never before seen because it is certain that the victim rights groups will oppose it, as will the CCPOA and, probably, the Board.  

We need letters and emails sent to the legislators, including the Republicans. We do not want a bi-partisan split on this. We need to convince Republicans and Democrats alike that integrity of the parole process will be better ensured by this bill and that arbitrariness in the parole process only fosters distrust of the government. For those of you who need a guide, a form letter is available at politicalinjustice.org from the California Alliance for Political Prisoners, Inc.; you can also obtain it via email at cappalliance@sbcglobal.net. 

This is important, do not merely copy the form letter and sign it; use it as a guide and write your own. Form letters hold no value to a legislator. Take the time to write your own. Especially send your letters and emails to your local Senator and Assemblyperson; you are their constituents and they are supposed to listen to your voice. Convince them this is the right thing to do. Meet with them in your district if possible and speak to them personally.  Letters and personal meetings, where possible, from GROUPS, are most helpful.  You can schedule appointments when they are at their district office.

Again, we are calling for all-out support for SB-1522. If you care about anyone inside, support this bill and start a grass-roots movement in your area, such as your church, to support this bill.

-- Carl McQuillion, CEO, California Alliance for Political Prisoners; and Donald Miller, VP-R&D, CAPP.

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AB . . . Assembly Bills
ACA . . . Assembly Constitutional Amendments
ACR . . . Assembly Concurrent Resolutions
AJR . . . Assembly Joint Resolutions
HR . . . House Resolutions
SB . . . Senate Bills
SCA . . . Senate Constitutional Amendments
SCR . . . Senate Concurrent Resolutions
SJR . . . Senate Joint Resolutions
SR . . . Senate Resolutions
1X . . . 2003-04 First Extraordinary Session
2X . . . 2003-04 Second Extraordinary Session