News Archive

Senate Bill 1437 went into effect on January 1st, making sweeping changes related to the felony murder rule, and resentencing petitions are starting to appear in county courthouses throughout California. When we get together for our next CARESCall, SB 1437 will have been in effect for just 15 days, and we will have a lot of new information to share.

When a new law is being used for the first time, many things end up being in flux. Judges, attorneys, and courts staff can struggle to figure out their roles and responsibilities, and it is not uncommon for implementation of a new law to vary to some degree from county to county. As a result, everyone has questions.

Our next CARESCall will have answers. We are happy to present a panel of attorneys who will discuss the new law and answer your questions.

Please join us on Tuesday, January 15th at 8 pm when we welcome Kellie Byward, Serena Salinas, and Jacque Wilson to the CARESCall. If you have a loved one inside who was convicted under the felony murder rule and who you think may qualify for resentencing under the new law, this is a CARESCall that you don’t want to miss!

CARESCall
This Tuesday,
January 15, 2019,
8:00 pm
Senate Bill 1437 Update by
Attorneys Kellie Byward, Serena Salinas, and Jacque Wilson
All are welcome!
Call: (515) 604-9384    
Code: 313882#

We’re hoping you can join us for what is sure to be an enlightening panel discussion!

Donate to the CARES Holiday Project: Gifts for murder victim family members

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy and happiness, but missing the presence of a loved one can mean that the holidays are  hard. Those who have lost loved ones to violence have another layer of pain to their loss.

For the sixth year in a row the CARES Holiday Project is raising money to provide gifts to murder victim families. When you participate, you let families who have suffered the unimaginable know that you are thinking of them.

The Men of Honor inmate-led group at Lancaster prison is joining us to fundraise once again, and we have already begun to get checks from people inside: Some send just a couple dollars, others send more. The thought is what counts.

Every year, the families that receive CARES gift cards are deeply appreciative: The gift helps provide a little extra for a good meal or something special for their children and loved ones. The families are especially moved that the people giving are family and friends of those in prison and people in prison themselves.

Last year, CARES provided gift cards to 80 families. Help us surpass that number this year!

We are a community of compassionate people, and this project is a direct way to act on compassion. Please consider donating any amount (no amount is too small!)

We can’t do this without your help. Please join us and send your donation to:
HRW CARES Victim Holiday Gifts
11500 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. 608
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Please make checks out to either Elizabeth Calvin, or Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch if you want it to be a nonprofit donation) with the memo line: “CARES Victim Family Gifts.” Please indicate if you would like a tax-deductible receipt.

Thank you for your continued support!

Senate Bill 1391 was signed by Governor Brown on September 30, ending California’s prosecution of 14- and 15-year-olds in the adult court system. This means that youth under the age of 16 will no longer be tried as adults. This is an incredible win for juvenile justice and for our communities.

Governor Brown needs to hear from people like YOU! Please take one minute out of your day, and call the his office. Ask him to sign SB 1391, the bill that would stop the transfer of 14- and 15-year-olds to the adult criminal system.

Call Governor Brown’s office:
(916) 445-2841

Something like this is all you’ll have to say:
“Hello, my name is __________.  I ask that the Governor sign SB 1391 into law.  I believe that 14- and 15-year-olds should be kept in the juvenile system.”

That’s it! (They may ask for your address.)

If you believe 14- and 15-year-olds should be kept in the juvenile system, please spread the word with family, friends, and colleagues. Ask them to make a phone call, too. Help us get SB 1391 signed into law!

Senate Bill 1391, which would stop California from transferring 14- and 15-year-olds to the adult court system, passed out of the Senate after a concurrence vote on August 30th. The bill is now headed to Governor Brown’s desk for his signature. Head on over to this page, and take action by writing a letter to the Governor, and ask him to sign SB 1391. Learn more about the bill here.

Senate Bill 1391 (Lara) passed in the State Assembly late last night, with a 41-23 vote. The bill is now returning to the Senate for a concurrence vote, before heading to Governor Brown’s desk.

We are grateful to our powerful coalition of advocates, formerly incarcerated people, activists, and community members who care about protecting our 14- and 15-year-old youth.

We need your help one more time! Please head over to our Take Action page, and learn how you can ask Governor Brown sign this important bill into law!

In California, children as young as 14 are given adult sentences, including life in prison.

This shouldn’t happen. If you live in California or know someone who does, make a call.  

Do you have a loved one sentenced to prison? Think about those who were sentenced to prison at age 14 or 15. Help end this practice: CLICK HERE FOR EASY INSTRUCTIONS. The next few days may be your last chance to help pass a law that would stop California from sending youth under 16 to the adult system.