Former San Jose Police Association Executive Director Joanne Segovia is facing federal charges for running an international drug ring for years. She was released without having to pay bail, and local law enforcement officials have been relatively silent about the alleged criminal activity, despite its size and scope. Writer Raymond Goins poses the question - why is she treated differently?

The community anti-displacement work that reached incredible heights in San Jose just before the pandemic wasn't slowed down, folks continued to build forming South Bay Community Land Trust to create permanently affordable housing. In just about 4 years from its founding SBCLT has its first property in Downtown San Jose and is engaged with neighbors in a second property in East San Jose – spots where displacement is happening at an accelerated pace - and CLTs are one of the o

Since its inception 20 years ago, ICE has acted with impunity and in complete disregard to Human Rights – the profit driven institution must be abolished! For years, loved ones detained inside these facilities have called out the inhumane conditions. Loved ones inside Mesa Verde and Golden State Annex have attempted to improve conditions, because nothing has changed they took the decision to hunger strike to call attention to the abuses and the need to SHUT IT DOWN!

The killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis has exposed the particular lethality of "specialized" units of police departments. Trye was executed by the SCORPION Unit. Chandra Jacquez shares how a similar unit killed her father in San Jose 7 years ago, have continued to kill with impunity, and why they need to be dismantled.

Santa Clara County had a long running practice of detaining people with no charges. Now they have to pay back hundreds of people who they illegally jailed.

SAN JOSE, CA -- On November 3rd, 2022 former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith was found guilty of corruption and willful misconduct civil charges by a civil grand jury.

Miguel Sifuentes shares a personal account of experiencing extended lockdowns in San Quentin Prison, and the disastrous impact of the policy on people's health and human rights.

Last year, California passed AB333, a law that challenges the states racist 'gang enhancements' which has targeted and incarcerated Black and Brown communities for decades. It may be the start of dismantling the racialized carceral tool all together.

The Humphrey Decision is the historic California ruling affirming that people cannot be incarcerated pretrial due to an inability to pay. Our Day in Court team across 3 counties observed court cases to document how judges are making bail and detention decisions 1 year after the ruling.

SV De-Bug - SV De-Bug - May 3, 2022 S B1421 record requests from San Jose families who lost loved ones to police violence as well as court documents show that a number of SJPD officers have been involved in multiple killings and critical incidents. Four of the officers involved in the killing of David Tovar Jr were involved in the killings of other community members -- including Demetrius Meech Stanley -- only 4 months later.  Sign the petitions on protectyourpeoplesj.org  

Every house I ever lived in was bulldozed to accommodate the tech boom. These demolitions and evictions happened while the City of San Jose was at a cross roads.

Who are the 500 plus people who they destined to be in this yet to be built jail? Where are they right now in this moment, living their lives not knowing that their futures have been sealed already by these three men of position? What must happen for a Santa Clara child of 2020 to be a caged Santa Clara adult in 2030?

Last November 2020, the Board of Supervisors unanimously decided to stop the construction of a new jail and explore alternatives to incarceration. They also promised to hold a robust community process that would include the experiences of those incarcerated, their families, and the larger community. The overwhelming response has been to keep on the track of identifying community-based alternatives that emphasize wellness and keep our communities safe. Yet the County Administr

As a physician who has practiced in urgent care for 15 years at Santa Clara Valley Medical, Dr. Zeiger has seen trauma, pain, and the immediate needs of the community. He describes incarceration as a public health threat, and gave the following speech at the Nov.12th SURJ press conference in front of the jail, calling for care not cages.

The following speech by Cynthia Longs was delivered at the SURJ press conference held in front of the Santa Clara County Main Jail on November 12th, 2021. The community call was to county elected officials to not build a new jail.

Santa Clara County's jail population is the lowest it's ever been. But also for the first time, there are more people on system supervision than in the jail. Pretrial justice doesn't have to be an either jail or supervision dichotomy - it can be neither. It can be freedom.

In the fall of 2018, Cecilia Morales joined our Participatory Defense meetings to advocate for her two sons. In April of 2020, right when COVID restrictions were put in place inside the court system, her older son Eladio was denied parole. The experience left Eladio depressed and made him question his future. Fortunately, through his support inside and outside of prison, Eladio was able to use this negative moment and turn into something powerful.

Zah has served 36 years of a Life Without the Possibility of Parole sentence. From his decades of experience he makes the political, moral, and undeniable argument to end extreme sentences.

Our families and folks across California worked hard to close the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Now as Santa Clara County begins to plan for this major shift, the care of our youth must be led by formerly incarcerated youth who can tell us what they needed but didn’t get in DJJ.

Ymilul Bates is a Bay Area teacher and the mother of a young man being adjudicated in Contra Costa. She reflects on her work with the young children in her classroom and her commitment to continue to support them and her own son as they learn from mistakes, resolve conflict and repair harm.