Services Not Cells: Let your Elected Officials know you DO NOT support the West County Detention Center expansion.
Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, the County Sheriff Department, Board of State and Community Corrections
The Contra Costa County Sheriff and Board of Supervisors are proposing to spend $95 million in taxpayer money building a new jail that will not make our community safer. The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors is willing to take our County’s reserve funds and general fund money to build a jail to house people that Donald Trump wants to deport.
At least 25 million, probably more, of this money is coming from reserve funds set aside for an economic downturn and general funds that should be spent on basic services like healthcare, libraries, law enforcement in our communities and infrastructure, not on a massive jail expansion that will not improve public safety.
Contra Costa County data has shown the racial disparities for people of color at every stage of the criminal justice process within the County. County funds need to go towards rehabilitation and preventative services to address these disparities and help these communities, not add more cells.
Petition by
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To:
Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, the County Sheriff Department, Board of State and Community Corrections
From:
[Your Name]
Contra Costa County should not spend a single cent of our general fund or reserve funds on expanding the West County Detention Center. Partnering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport members of our community goes against the ideals of our County.
Now is the time for us as a society, and a County, to take a stand to protect our vulnerable communities and families. The mass incarceration of people of color in our County must be stopped and adequate funding be spent on rehabilitation and preventative services.
Contra Costa County residents need general funds to benefit our basic services like healthcare, libraries, law enforcement in our communities and infrastructure, not jail expansion.
Local racial justice leaders, immigration rights organizations, faith leaders and mental health professionals agree: Contra Costa County needs Services Not Cells.