#TeamJustice is a coalition of partners who are committed to doing the work in state legislations to create meaningful changes in our criminal justice system under the equity and justice lens for the Black and Brown communities.
#TeamJustice & partners are advocating for you to SUPPORT AB1630 in this 2022 legislative cycle.
There is an upcoming Public Safety Hearing on March 8th where the committee will vote on AB1630 The Vulnerable Defendants Right to A Fair Trial. Please follow our script and call in. According to the California ACLU, calling your representative remains one of the most effective ways to reach your legislators. Help us reimagine what public safety looks like. Encourage the committee to VOTE YES so AB1630 can continue through the legislative process.
Bill Summary:
In California, a finding of mental incompetence is supposed to stop all court proceedings for a defendant. In practice, this is only true within a given jurisdiction. The Vulnerable Defendant’s Right to a Fair Trial would strengthen existing law by clarifying enforcement. If a person is found mentally incompetent to stand trial in one CA superior court, then proceedings should be paused for that defendant in all CA Superior Courts until the defendant is restored to competence.
Currently in CA nearly 1/3 of people behind bars have a diagnosed mental illness.
Many people who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial are slipping through the cracks and are still being prosecuted instead of getting the care they need.
Four Fast Actions to Pass AB1630:
Take these actions between now and 9am on March 8th
1) Send an Email
2) Sign the Petition
3) Call the members of the Public Safety Committee using the numbers and call script below. It’s most important to reach the Chair and Vice Chair but call as many members as you have time for!
4) Call in to state your support during the Public Safety Hearing March 8th. The number to call in as well as instructions will be available on the Assembly Public Safety Committee site the morning of the hearing.
Call Script:
Hi, my name is __. I’m a California resident, and I am urging the Member and the rest of the Public Safety Committee Members to support AB 1630, the Vulnerable Defendant’s Right to a Fair Trial Act, at the Public Safety hearing on the 8th. Criminalizing mental illness is inhumane. Thank you
District | Public Safety Committee Member | Capitol Office Phone Number
Dem - 59 | Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (Chair) | (916) 319-2059
Rep - 36 | Tom Lackey (Vice Chair) | (916) 319-2036
Dem - 18 | Mia Bonta | (916) 319-2018
Dem - 54 | Isaac G. Bryan | (916) 319-2054
Dem - 20 | Bill Quirk | (916) 319-2020
Dem - 53 | Miguel Santiago | (916) 319-2053
Rep - 67 | Kelly Seyarto | (916) 319-2067