by Arielle Reisman, LSPC Family Defense Social Worker • Published May 2025 Because it is National Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to take a moment to address a mental health issue impacting millions of people in the United States each year: addiction. The current model of understanding addiction is a disease model. The idea is that a person has a cluster of symptoms … [Read more...] about Addiction: A Case for a Public Health Approach
Feature Story
THE FIGHT ISN’T OVER: I Still Believe We Can Abolish Forced Slave Labor
by Angel Garza, Corcoran State Prison • Published May 2025 Introduction I wanted to insert a short note here preceding the wonderful article and artwork submitted by Mr. Angel Garza. He writes about the measure LSPC worked on over the course of a few years, that changed from ACA 3 to ACA 8 and at the end of 2024, Prop 6. Although it may seem that Prop 6 lost as the results … [Read more...] about THE FIGHT ISN’T OVER: I Still Believe We Can Abolish Forced Slave Labor
On the Quest for Democracy
On May 19, 2025, LSPC held its 13th Annual Quest for Democracy day of advocacy at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. This event brought together hundreds of formerly incarcerated leaders, system-impacted family members, and partner organizations from across the state to advocate for legislation that directly impacts us. The day included a program of speakers and … [Read more...] about On the Quest for Democracy
The Light Left Behind, Illuminating the Path to Hope
by Jose Contreras, Pelican Bay State Prison, CA by Jose Contreras, Pelican Bay State Prison, CA My name is Jose Contreras also known as Chuy which is short for Jesus. On May 31, 1992, I was arrested, then tried, and sentenced to two LWOPS sentences plus 51 years. From that day on, I believed in my heart that my life was over; that I was going to die in prison. The only … [Read more...] about The Light Left Behind, Illuminating the Path to Hope
Incarcerated Firefighters Face Trauma Without Equal Support and Pay
This story was first published by AfroLA, nonprofit solutions journalism for Los Angeles told through the lens of the Black community. To also reproduce or republish this article, please contact AfroLA. by Audy McAfee, AfroLA Cal Fire is the largest firefighting force in the nation, with 12,000 permanent and seasonal personnel who protect more than 31 million acres of … [Read more...] about Incarcerated Firefighters Face Trauma Without Equal Support and Pay
