The RISE Act is one of the most consequential pieces of criminal justice reform legislation this year. The RISE Act would repeal a failed drug war policy that gives drug defendants three extra years in jail for each previous drug sale conviction. It’s excessive, it’s unnecessary, and it’s just plain ineffective. Let’s invest in people, not prisons!
It’s also expensive. Policies like this have led to severe overcrowding in California’s jails, costing the state and counties $2.5 billion dollars each year. We’re throwing away money that could be spent on affordable housing, job training, or rehabilitation services — priorities that keep California communities safe and healthy, and that keep people who’ve committed crimes from reoffending. Let’s invest in people, not prisons!