NEWS
Advocates Call for End to Discriminatory Housing Policies
On August 1st, community members gathered in front of Riverside City Hall to demand an end to Riverside’s discriminatory Crime-Free Multi Housing program. This program is mandatory for most housing providers and includes a lease addendum putting tenants at risk of eviction if they are suspected of committing a crime.
California DOJ launches investigation into Riverside Sheriff’s Department
As a result of the request Starting Over, Riverside All Of Us or None, and ACLU SoCal sent in 2021, Attorney General Bonta announced an investigation into the Riverside Sheriff’s department. Starting Over is honored to partner with impacted families in this advocacy work and hope that this will bring answers, accountability, and change to RSD.
Bank of America Grant to support Path to SEED Program
Starting Over, Inc.’s new community partnership with Bank of America will provide skills trainings, coaching, job opportunities, and more to justice-impacted community members who are often overlooked by employers.
PRESS RELEASE: Dear Mama Rally & Caravan to Support Mothers
With over 40 community members, we rallied at the Edelman Children’s Courthouse in LA in support of mothers impacted by family separation through incarceration or the child welfare system.
Two recent bills (AB 1869 and AB 177) eliminated a total of 40 criminal justice system fees in California!
“[Reports] showed LA was collecting just 4 percent of more than $100 million in court debts, while expending a “significant amount of resources” to — unsuccessfully — collect those debts.”
The Imprint: Advocates and Officials Press Case for Overhauling Key Adoption and Child Welfare Law
Read about our January 18th rally at California’s capitol to #TransformCPS. “Billed as the first protest of its kind in California, attendees at the Jan. 18 rally united in one particularly urgent appeal: Pressure state lawmakers to push back against a federal law that incentivizes adoption with federal funds and, they say, places unreasonable timelines and barriers on families who are already facing difficulties.”
Press Enterprise Op-Ed: CA Attorney General needs to investigate the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
“We can’t wait any longer as the RSD continues to disregard the well-being of our communities. It is imperative that AG Bonta act now to ensure justice and accountability for all those who have been and continue to be harmed by the RSD.”
SB354 becomes law, keeping more children in the foster system to be placed with relatives
After 2 years of organizing, our bill was signed into California law, keeping more children currently in foster care with family members over strangers. This bill eases the barriers that disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, and Latinx families’ abilities to be with their loved ones. Read more about our FREE Project here.
Activist groups ask CA Attorney General to Investigate Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept
Along with ACLU of Southern California and Riverside All Of Us or None, we sent a letter sent to the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of families and individuals who have lost loved ones to Riverside sheriff deputy violence, requesting an investigation into RSD’s racist policing practices, rampant patrol and jail deaths, and refusal to comply with court orders.Along with ACLU of Southern California and Riverside All Of Us or None, we sent a letter sent to the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of families and individuals who have lost loved ones to Riverside sheriff deputy violence, requesting an investigation into RSD’s racist policing practices, rampant patrol and jail deaths, and refusal to comply with court orders.
Riverside Sheriff’s Department Gets Millions Meant for COVID Relief
The ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Riverside All of Us or None, and Starting Over Inc. filed complaints with federal officials asking them to exercise their oversight authority and recover the CARES Act funds allocated to the sheriff’s department so they can be reallocated to services and programs specifically related to the pandemic.
People With Mental Illness Face Dangers During + After Police Encounters
Riverside County community member Darik Schaaf is facing a life sentence for experiencing a mental health crisis. Darik needs to come home to get the support and treatment he needs. Sign and share a petition for him here.
California Court of Appeals Rules Riverside Court Practices Violate State Law
At A New Way of Life’s Reentry Legal Clinic, clients with marijuana convictions from Riverside that should have been destroyed were still available to the public. All of Us or None Riverside Chapter, represented by A New Way of Life’s attorneys, demanded that the court change its practices. Unfortunately, the court responded by only partially complying with the law, leaving thousands of improperly destroyed or redacted records.
After a four-year battle, the California Court of Appeals ruled that these Riverside Court practices violated state law. The ruling will change how California criminal court records are managed.