Friends Committee on Legislation Education Fund
FCL Research Page
Reform Our Systems of Justice, End Violence and Terrorism

We cannot build a safe and just society by simply catching and punishing offenders, or defending our "homeland." Reactive policies that interfere with the creation of strong communities can do more harm than good.

California needs to put much more effort into bridge-building in distressed and immigrant communities, repairing the harm done to crime victims, restoring the neighborhood's sense of safety after a crime occurs, and in most cases, re-uniting the offender with family, work, and a supportive community. We also need to invest intelligently in programs that steer young people who are at risk for involvement in gangs toward good jobs, athletics, and community service.

This page provides access to Research pages on

• After-school Youth Programs
• Reducing Terrorism and Political Violence
• Alternatives to Imprisonment
• Treat Mental Illness, Don't Imprison
• Violence Prevention Program Inventory
• Restorative and Transformative Justice
• Juvenile Boot Camps -- Why Do They Have Such Poor Outcomes?
• Treat Drug Users, Don't Imprison
• Prison and Jail Reform
• Punsihment and Accountability

Institutional Crisis in Prisons and Youth Authority

California's prisons are too big to work. Gangs dominate. Lock-downs have become a standard way of doing business. Staff turnover is high and morale is low.

The governor vetoed proposals during 2000 and 2001 as if he simply wanted to put a lid on these problems. To salvage the humanity of prisoners and staff, FCL seeks alternatives to imprisonment that will lead to smaller prison populations. There also need to be many more education and work opportunities for people who are in jail and prison.

The situation and needs are similar in the California Youth Authority. Its over-sized institutions are still suffering from the loss of confidence in rehabilitation that began during Governor Wilson's administration. California needs to fund more after-school youth programs that will keep our youth productively engaged and out of trouble, and we need to build up a network of

• violence prevention programs at the local level to intervene with at-risk youth and their families.

Drug Policy

The passage of Proposition 36, the November 2000 initiative that mandated drug treatment instead of prison for non-violent drug felons, signals a new era of immense complexity. Law enforcement now acknowledges that treatment works but also wants to retain control of probationers. Corrections could benefit from a reduced prison population.

Lawmakers have a chance to rethink their budget priorities in the face of the public's cry for treatment. FCL wants all people to be entitled to drug treatment, before, during and after incarceration.