Our Campaigns
Religious leaders at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors successfully called for restoration of Medi-Cal benefits before people leave the jail.
Medi-Cal Enrollment Workgroup
Every year nearly 25,000 people are released from Alameda County Jail with no health insurance. Since 2019, we have advocated to have Medi-Cal benefits, which are often terminated during incarceration, reinstated at the time of release. Our current mission is to ensure that everyone eligible is offered Medi-Cal enrollment when leaving custody.
District Attorney & Diversion
We work to curtail the flow of people into Santa Rita Jail by advocating for alternatives to incarceration, including reforming policies and practices in the District Attorney’s office and other judicial offices. Our focus is on pretrial release and diversion.
Our goals are:
1) To support the availability of pre-trial diversion and support services that currently exist, and identify the diversion support services which are missing and needed.
2) To sponsor a county-wide town hall with Alameda County residents to highlight new policies and practices being implemented in the Office of the Alameda County District Attorney.
Resource: Questions and Answers About the Work of the Alameda County District Attorney
The DA and Diversion campaign is focused on increasing the opportunities for diversion, including the capacity of Behavioral Health Courts. The banner of one of our allies, FASMI (Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill). Photo by Steve Thomasberger
Religious leaders read the names of all who have died in Santa Rita Jail since 2014. Rabbi Dev Noily spoke, representing Kehilla Community Synagogue, with Rev. Laurie Manning, Skyline Community Church, UCC (left). Photo by Steve Thomasberger
The Stop Deaths in the Jail group is an outgrowth of a successful ICJJ demonstration outside the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Over 150 people attended the vigil. Faith leaders read the names of the 68 people who had died in Santa Rita Jail.
We joined with FASMI (Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill) to create headstones for every person who had died.
Reverend Michael Wallace, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, speaking at the Rally to Stop Deaths in the Jail. The photo on the altar is of Norma Nelson and her brother Donald Nelson, who had a serious mental illness and was murdered while in his cell at Santa Rita Jail. Photo by Steve Thomasberger
Stop Deaths in the Jail
Care First Community Coalition
ICJJ is a member organization of the Care First Community Coalition (CFCC), which advocates for community-based wellness and promotes alternatives to jail for people with mental illness and substance use disorders. We advocate for funds being diverted from the jail to community treatment and housing.
Care First Community Coalition Demonstration at the Board of Supervisors.
Care First Community Coalition demonstration in front of Santa Rita Jail. Photo by Steve Thomasberger
Media Development Campaign
The media group works to advance ICJJ goals by promoting the publication of accurate news, analysis, and opinion.
We connect with journalists and provide them with important news items and accurate source information.