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Pretrial Services help people stay out of jail, improving their lives and saving taxpayer dollars. Why is Alameda County poised to end its promising new Pretrial Expansion Program after less than a year? How can we get the County leadership to change their minds? Since February of this year, the Berkeley-based non-profit Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) has been operating a Pretrial Expansion Program (PEP) in partnership with Alameda County Superior Court’s

The Stop Deaths and Harm group has worked for several years to improve the tragically inadequate medical care at Santa Rita jail. With ICJJ and many others, Stop Deaths and Harm successfully advocated for the County to seek a new medical contractor. This process requires the County to issue a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to receive bids from medical service providers to organize, assign staff, and provide medical services in the jail. Several months ago, the Sheriff’s d

Wendy Ware presenting her data findings to the BOS Public Protection Committee. Last November, Wendy Ware, a national expert in corrections data analysis, authored “ Alameda County Jail Analysis & Population Projections ” . The report details current trends in crime, arrests, jail population, and recidivism. She submitted her report and presented a summary, “ County Jail Population Analysis ,” to the Board of Supervisors Public Protection Committee as she ended her one-year

County takes millions reporting foreign-born prisoners to ICE Fortunately, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors recently voted unanimously to plan for defenses against the state terrorism of unconstitutional immigration enforcement (ICE). Unfortunately, the County, through the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), continues to participate in a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) program, known as SCAAP. ACSO continues to report all foreign-born people with at least one fel

Care First, Jails Last ( CFJL) BACKGROUND: An Ad Hoc Committee was convened in December 2024 to monitor the implementation of the Care First, Jails Last (CFJL) recommendations, which had been issued by a special task force. (Visit carefirstcoalition.org for the recommendation details.) The Ad Hoc committee was created by the County’s Mental Health Advisory Board, now called the Behavioral Health Advisory Board (BHAB), under a directive of the Alameda County Board of Supervi

The Interfaith Coalition for Justice in Our Jails believes that a robust pretrial services program is an important part of reducing reliance on incarceration—a costly and ineffective response to social problems—and in promoting safety and welfare in Alameda County. BACKGROUND Since the passage of AB 74 in 2019, California has sought to “increase the safe and efficient release of arrestees before trial” using risk assessment tools and support services, including hiring pretr

1. Notes from the Mental Health Advisory Board CFJL Ad Hoc Committee by Myrna Schwartz Some history: In August 2024, the CFJL Task Force...

Mayor Barbara Lee joined the public to encourage the Board of Supervisors to release Measure W funds. Measure W, passed narrowly by...

by Bob Britton Supervisors David Haubert and Nate Miley are proposing an ordinance amendment to significantly increase the dollar amount...

by Pastor Jim Hopkins There are three main categories of violence reduction strategies: prevention, intervention, and community change....

Volunteers handwrite holiday cards for incarcerated folks during the Friendsgiving gathering in 2023. by Uma Nagarajan-Swenson (LSPC)...

Santa Rita guards entering Maurice Monk’s cell after he was unresponsive. The Stop Deaths and Harm in the Jail (SDHJ) group is engaged in...

The Interfaith Coalition for Justice in Our Jails delivered a plea on July 10, 2025, signed by 39 Religious leaders (see below) to the...

In February 2025, the CFCC met with Michelle Starratt, the Alameda County director of housing; she provided insight into the current...

ICE Out of Dublin Campaign (Pleasanton Weekly: Peg Hunter) Under the new federal administration, moves are being made to re-commission...

Pastor Brian K. Woodson, Sr., addresses the Board. A successful campaign to present urgent concerns about poor medical care in Alameda...

ICJJ’s commitment to justice in our jails compels our engagement with county- and state-wide efforts to address the destructive nexus...

Public Education / Civil Engagement ICJJ Cosponsored a Sheriff Oversight town hall meeting with the ACLU, the League of Women Voters, and...