SUMMARY
This bill creates the Community Violence Interdiction
Program within the California He alth and Human
Services Agency to fund community -driven solutions
to decrease violence in neighborhoods and schools.
The fund will receive an appropriation equal to the
amount of projected savings from any future prison
closure.
BACKGROUND
Over the last few decades, the California State
Legislature has successfully passed numerous bills
supporting criminal justice reform. Coupled with the
public’s action at the ballot in the form of Proposition 47 and 57, these collective actions have resulted in a
major reduction in the number of incarcerated
Californians; clear indication of a shift away from the over-criminalization and harsh, excessive penalties of
the past.
As a result of this activity, the State has seen a massive reduction in its prison population from a peak of
163,000 in 2006 to an estimated 93,400 in 2023 -24.
With the reduction in population comes states savings
as we have been positioned to shut d own prisons due
to empty beds. Since 2021, the three planned closures
(including one lease termination) has resulted in $450
million in annual ongoing savings. An additional $170
million in ongoing savings was generated by
deactivating six specified facilities at different prisons.
These savings should not be returned to the General
Fund as they are the result of years of hard work from
the legislature and stakeholders alike. Instead, these funds should be reinvested into programs known to
prevent incarceration on the front end, thereby
continually providing funding through more closures.
THIS BILL
AB 2064 creates the Community Violence Interdiction
Grant Fund to be funded by savings from the closure
of state prisons. The fund will allow the California
Health and Human Services Agency to administer the
Community Violence Interdiction Grant Program to
provide funding for community-driven solutions to
decrease violence in neighborhoods and schools.
Eligible programs include:
Supportive programs that preemptively reduce
and eliminate violence and gang involvement
Programs that create recreational opportunities
during peak times of violence
Health programs that address youth trauma
Youth diversion programs
School-based health centers
SUPPORT
CONTACT
Michael Lucien ♦ Chief of Staff
(916) 319-2057 ♦ [email protected]
Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr.
57th Assembly District
AB 2064: Community Violence Interdiction Grant Program
CAPITOL OFFICE
1021 O Street, ROOM 5210
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
TEL: 916.319.2057
FAX: 916-319-2157
DISTRICT OFFICE
700 EXPOSITION PARK DRIVE
LOS ANGELES, CA 90037
TEL: 213.744.2111
FAX: 213.744.2122