Last week, the California Racial Justice Act for All (AB 256), which addresses institutionalized and implicit racial bias in criminal cases, passed the state Assembly and has moved on to the Senate. The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, would make retroactive a similar law that was adopted in January, giving those with prior, racially biased convictions and sentences the right to seek relief.
The RJA was a first-of-its-kind law in the state prohibiting the use of race, ethnicity, or national origin in sentencing and convictions, and passage of AB 256 will extend civil rights in the courtroom for all people of color impacted by racist convictions and sentencing.
For more information about AB 256 and how you can support it, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3iv3Hh0