Past Events
2024
Parole: Problem or Solution?
Wednesday, April 10th | 11am PST | Online
The National Parole Transformation Project hosted a national dialogue on the topic of parole. Originally designed as a mechanism for early release, national trends depicting the rising rate of parole denials suggest parole boards have become a roadblock, rather than a pathway, to discretionary release—from California, where release is increasingly denied through “non-decisions,” to Mississippi, where the rate of parole board denials is helping expand its prison system. Join us for a virtual dialogue analyzing the institution of parole from a national perspective and outlining the ongoing barriers to meaningful reform.
Panelists for this discussion included Emmett Sanders, Policy and Advocacy Associate at the Prison Policy Initiative, Keith Wattley, Executive Director at UnCommon Law, Pauline Rogers, Founder, Director and Recidivism Reduction Specialist at the RECH Foundation, and Ben Austen, author of the new book, Correction: Parole, Prison and the Possibility of Change. The conversation was moderated by Timmy Chau, Community Outreach Lead of the National Parole Transformation Project.
2023
2023 Lifer School
Saturday, December 2nd | 9am PST | Oakland, CA
UnCommon Law staff & other community members held our annual “Lifer School!”
Lifer School is an all-day educational symposium for advocates and community members who are supporting people navigating the parole process in California. Attendees heard from experts - people with lived and learned expertise in the parole process - on the ins and outs of California’s parole system, and got practical advice on how to best prepare for a hearing.
2023 UnCommon Heroes
Saturday, Oct 21 | 1pm | The Overlook | Oakland, CA
Each year, UnCommon Heroes presents a special opportunity for our growing community to come together and say "welcome home" to former clients, loved ones, and others who have recently returned home from prison. It also provides us with a platform to celebrate folks in our community doing the hard, often unrecognized work of making these reunions outside prison walls possible.
26.2 To Life: Inside The San Quentin Prison Marathon
Friday, Sept 22 | 7pm | Smith Rafael Film Center
UnCommon Law and SURJ Marin hosted a special premiere screening of the award-winning documentary 26.2 To Life: Inside The San Quentin Prison Marathon. After the film, our Executive Director, Keith Wattley, moderated a Q&A panel.
A Race, Tech, and Justice Salon: How Can AI Be Used For Good in the Criminal Legal System?
Wednesday, Sept 13 | 12pm | Virtual
UnCommon Law and the Center on Race Inequality & The Law at NYU Race partnered togeether for a conversation about using artificial intelligence to advocate for justice.
California: Barriers and Avenues to Meaningful Parole Reform
Wednesday, Sept 6 | 10am | Virtual
WATCH HERE!
Join UnCommon Law and the National Parole Transformation Project for a virtual teach-in on key challenges and opportunities for reform in California’s parole system.
Life without Parole in the Era of Mass Incarceration
Virtual | March 14, 2023 | 2:00pm
WATCH HERE
UCL Executive Director, Keith Wattley joined The Sentencing Project and others for a discussion on the origins of life without parole sentences and their transformation from a rarely imposed punishment to a starkly common sentencing option today.
Sansón and Me
The Roxie Theater, SF | March 18, 2023 | 1:30pm
UCL and Represent Justice presented a special screening of Sansón And Me, a powerful and meditative new film that traces a young immigrant’s journey from coastal Mexico to prison in California.
UCL Executive Director, Keith Wattley joined the film's director, Rodrigo Reyes, for a post-film Q&A.
2022
UnCommon Law’s 7th annual UnCommon Heroes celebration
Each year, UnCommon Heroes provides an opportunity for our community to welcome home those who have recently gained their freedom (some who spent decades behind bars), and uplift members of our community who are doing the hard, often unrecognized work to create justice for those being denied it.
In 2022, we were finally able to gather back in person for the first time we two years! We were able to uplift some incredible advocates in our community and “welcome home” all who have returned from prison in the last year.
How We Heal: Reframing responses to violent crime (Part Two)
On June 23rd, UnCommon Law and other advocates met to explore the intersecting experiences of survivors and perpetrators of harm, and the ways in which people who hold these identities can come together to build solutions that will keep us all safer. WATCH HERE.
How We Help: Sending solidarity to folks inside prison
On June 14th, we drafted virtual postcards with messages of love and support and mailed them directly to folks inside. Our volunteers spread love to hundreds of people across California!
Lifer School 2022
On June 11th, UnCommon Law held our annual one-day advocacy workshop for family members, loved ones, and advocates of people serving life sentences in California state prisons. Lifer School aims to demystify the Board of Parole process for communities facing life sentences.
How We Heal: Reframing responses to violent crime
On May 24th, UnCommon Law and other advocates came together for a conversation to lay the groundwork about why and how hyper-punitive approaches are ineffective at preventing and addressing violence, and begin exploring other frameworks for safety. WATCH HERE.
2021
UnCommon Law’s 6th annual UnCommon Heroes celebration
Each year, UnCommon Heroes provides an opportunity for our community to welcome home those who have recently gained their freedom (some who spent decades behind bars), and uplift members of our community who are doing the hard, often unrecognized work to create justice for those being denied it.
In 2021, UnCommon Law is asking the question: what does it look like to "do justice differently" - and what might our world look like if we did? We're celebrating some incredible advocates and thinkers, all of whom are imagining and fighting for a different kind of justice for their loved ones and communities.
Watch here.
Decarceration for All: Why people serving life sentences should come home - on May 12th, we heard from Keith Wattley, Romarilyn Ralston, and Danielle Sered in the final episode of our series on race, trauma, and mass incarceration.
Watch HERE.
Juneteenth 2021: ACA 3 Press Conference & Rally - We stood in solidarity with other organizers and supporters of ACA 3 on Juneteenth, 2021 at the State Capitol.
Watch HERE.
Learn more about the California Abolition Act here.
Additional sponsors include: The 10P Program, The Abolish Slavery National Network, The Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Anti-Violence Safety and Accountability Project, Bend the Arc, The Center for African Peace & Conflict Resolution-California State University Sacramento, Courage Campaign, EMPACT, Fair Chance Project, F.U.E.L., March On, Pride and Truth, Prison from the Inside Out, The Village Advocates, and The Young Women's Freedom Center.
Write for Freedom - over the course of April and May, volunteers joined UnCommon Law and Flikshop to create digital postcards for hundreds of folks inside prison as part of UnCommon Law’s Fight for Freedom campaign.
Race as a Proxy for Risk: How discretionary parole undermines BIPOC communities - on April 26th, we heard from Keith Wattley, Emile DeWeaver, and Nicole Porter in the second episode of our series on race, trauma, and mass incarceration.
Watch HERE.
How to Dismantle Mass Incarceration: A trauma-informed approach to healing our systems and ourselves - on April 20th, UnCommon Law partnered with California ChangeLawyers to launch a series on race, trauma, and mass incarceration.
Watch the first episode, featuring Keith Wattley and Zach Norris HERE.
2020
UnCommon Heroes 2020: Authors of Change - on Thursday, November 19th, UnCommon Law welcomed home those returning from prison, and celebrated California State Senator Nancy Skinner and James King, State Campaigner at the Ella Baker Center, as “Authors of Change”: folks rewriting their own stories and the stories society tells, while creating a new reality in which meaningful healing and real justice are accessible to all. The evening included special remarks from Rahsaan Thomas, currently incarcerated at San Quentin, and a live musical performance from local artist and activist Maserati E.
Watch the recording HERE.
Evolving the Narrative: From Police Brutality to Police Criminality - on Wednesday, September 9th, UnCommon Law, the 10P Program, A.S.A.P. and The Family Project hosted a discussion on police criminality and how it contributes to community destruction and mass incarceration.
Watch the recording HERE.
Reimagining Justice: Creating a New Vision of Policing, Prosecution & Punishment - on Friday, September 19th, UnCommon Law’s Keith Wattley joined the Bail Project’s Robin Steinberg, and Re:Store Justice’s Adnan Khan to examine public safety through a social justice lens.
Watch the recording HERE.
Special thanks to the Loyola Project for the Innocent, Sean Kennedy, and the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy!
We Keep Us Safe: Reimagining Safety in the Age of Mass Incarceration - on Wednesday, June 3rd, UnCommon Law’s Keith Wattley joined Zach Norris, Executive Director for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights for a fireside chat to answer the question: after decades of repressive and racist systems that keep our communities struggling, how can we reimagine safety in the age of aggressive policing and mass incarceration?
Pro-Bono Consultation Training - on Wednesday, May 27th, UnCommon Law hosted a pro-bono Consultation training for dozens of attorneys and law students. These trainings and subsequent volunteer support are a critical part of UnCommon Law’s work providing free legal resources and advocacy to those serving lengthy sentences in California state prisons.
"Sending Solidarity" Postcard Day - on Thursday, May 21st, dozens of volunteers joined UnCommon Law and our friends at Flikshop for an afternoon and evening-long opportunity to craft and send digital postcards carrying messages of love, hope and support for people inside prison. Together, we mailed over 1,600 postcards in one day!
“Counseling in Quarantine” - on Tuesday, May 12th, UnCommon Law’s Director of Clinical Support Julie Hess, our Therapist Intern Ritika Aggarwal, and former client and current MSA graduate student James Cavitt joined the Peace Alliance to discuss their experiences providing counseling to people in prison during the spread of COVID-19.
Recording available HERE.
“From Prison to Quarantine” - on Tuesday, May 5th, UnCommon Law joined Impact Justice for a virtual conversation examining criminal justice issues that are in the spotlight and exacerbated by COVID-19. Panelists included Terah Lawyer, who leads the Homecoming Project at Impact Justice, and Keith Wattley, Executive Director of UnCommon Law.
Recording available HERE.
“Circles” - On January 28th, UnCommon Law hosted two back-to-back screenings of “Circles”. UnCommon Law Executive Director Keith Wattley was joined by Eric Butler, star of “Circles”, for a post-film discussion on Restorative Justice practices and Eric’s tireless work to keep children out of the criminal justice system.
2019
The Meaning of Life - On November 14th, UnCommon Law hosted Marc Mauer and Ashley Nellis of the Sentencing Project, co-authors of "The Meaning of Life: The Case for Abolishing Life Sentences” for a discussion on life sentencing in the United States. Marc, Ashley and UnCommon Law’s Keith Wattley were joined by Miguel Quezada, former life-sentenced UnCommon Law client and current community organizer.
UnCommon Heroes - On November 13th, 2019, UnCommon Law hosted our annual “UnCommon Heroes” Celebration to honor and uplift those who have returned home from prison. We also honored two “UnCommon Heroes” - David Cowan and Taina Vargas-Edmond - for their exceptional work with currently and formerly-incarcerated people. See photos from UnCommon Heroes here.
Q Ball - On November 4th, UnCommon Law partnered with For The People for a special screening of Q Ball at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater. Q Ball tells the story of the San Quentin Warriors, a group of incarcerated players in San Quentin State Prison. Q Ball delves into the lives of these men, and follows their struggles as they use basketball as a means of transcending prison and finding healing.
Following the film, viewers joined For The People's Hillary Blout, UnCommon Law's Keith Wattley, and "Q-Ball"'s Harry "ATL" Smith for a discussion on the film, long-term prison sentences, the nature of redemption, and the role of the parole process. See photos of the “Q Ball” panel here.
Lifer School 2019 - On November 2nd, UnCommon Law hosted our annual “Lifer School” at Berkeley Law. Students, attorneys and community members watched a (mock) Parole Hearing in action, learned how to best prepare for one, and heard from legal experts and formerly incarcerated people on the ins and outs of the California Parole system.
Predicting Justice: Optimizing Data in the Criminal Justice System - On October 14th, UnCommon Law’s Keith Wattley delivered the keynote address at Santa Clara School of Law’s free, all-day symposium hosting expert panelists to discuss the effects of risk assessment tools utilized across the criminal justice system. Panelists included experts in risk assessment, data analysis, law enforcement, sociology and criminology. Symposium participants interrogated the effects and implications of predictive policing and artificial intelligence bail-assessment or recidivism measurement tools on marginalized communities.
THE PUSHOUTS - Join us for a sneak-peek screening of THE PUSHOUTS, an award-winning documentary directed by Katie Galloway and produced and co-directed by Dawn Valadez, set for national broadcast on September 20th. The screening will feature a post-film discussion with Victor Rios and youth activists from around the Bay. We are excited to offer this rare opportunity to see Victor speak, and to help THE PUSHOUTS launch their Seed and Spark campaign. More information can be found at www.thepushouts.com.
Tuesday, September 10th at 6:50 - The New Parkway, Oakland CA
About the Film: "I was in prison before I was even born.” So begins the story of Victor Rios - a high school dropout, gang member, and three time felon by 15. But when a teacher’s quiet persistence, a mentor’s moral conviction, and his best friend’s murder converge, Rios’ path takes an unlikely turn. Two decades later, Rios - by then a 36 year-old tenured UC professor, author and national thought leader on the school-to-prison pipeline - gets an unexpected call that propels him on a summer-long journey with a group of teenagers struggling to stay out of the system. Woven with archival material stretching back 25 years to Rios’ own troubled adolescence and including the contemporary story of this fateful summer in Watts, THE PUSHOUTS examines crucial questions of race, class, power, and the American dream at a particularly urgent time.
Join us for a post-film discussion with Victor Rios, highlighting the critical issues THE PUSHOUTS seeks to address.
Crime After Crime - Join us for a screening of this award-winning Sundance Film festival selection, followed by a post-movie discussion with Carletha Sterling, incarcerated for 32 years, and attorney Lilli Paratore.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 6:30 PM - New Parkway Theater, Oakland CA
About the Film: In 1983, Deborah Peagler, a woman brutally abused by her boyfriend, was sentenced to 25 years-to-life for her connection to his murder. Twenty years later, a California law allowing domestic-violence survivors to reopen their cases was passed. Enter a pair of rookie land-use attorneys convinced that they could free Deborah in a matter of months. The outrageous twists and turns in this consummately crafted saga are enough to keep us on the edge of our seats. Meanwhile, the spirit, fortitude, and love all three characters marshal in the face of this wrenching marathon is nothing short of miraculous.
Join us for a post-film discussion highlighting Uncommon Law's work with women serving life sentences. The panel will feature a close friend of Deborah Peagler's, Carletha Sterling, herself incarcerated for 32 years. She will be joined by attorney Lilli Paratore of UnCommon Law, who has spent years helping women in similar situations successfully navigate their parole hearings.
Healing Justice - Join us for a screening of this new documentary by Dr. Shakti Butler, followed by a post-movie discussion with the director, Malachai Scott and Sara Kruzan. This event is presented by KPFA and co-sponsored by UnCommon Law.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
About the Film: Healing Justice, explores the causes and consequences of the current North American justice system and its effect on marginalized communities. The film walks us through the history of violence that has led to our current system, bringing into focus the histories of trauma – on a personal, interpersonal, community, and generational level. This powerful documentary addresses the school-to-prison pipeline, the need for comprehensive criminal justice reform, and the importance of healing and restorative practices.
Join us for a post-film discussion facilitated by Dr. Butler with Malachai Scott, featured in the documentary, and Sara Kruzan - a nationally recognized healer, who was incarcerated for 19 years and is the Parole Success Advocate at UnCommon Law.
Toe Tag Parole: To Live and Die on Yard A
A Documentary plus Q&A with Kenneth Hartman, featured in the film and now out of prison
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
About the Film: Toe Tag Parole: To Live and Die on Yard A explores the nation’s extreme sentencing policy of Life Without the Possibility of Parole, often referred to as “the other death sentence”. There are now more than 50,000 men, women and juveniles in the United States currently serving Life Without the Possibility of Parole who are all condemned to die in prison.
The documentary was filmed entirely on Yard A at the California State Prison, Los Angeles County. Known as the Progressive Programming Facility, the yard is populated entirely with inmates serving life sentences. The inmates call it The Honor Yard and within the setting, they participate in peer groups such as anger management and The Houses of Healing in which they come to accept the severity of crimes and the pain they inflicted upon their victims. The Honor Yard program also offers traditional education courses as well as art and music therapy in an effort to create a positive life for these men who will never return to society. It is the only such program in the United States.
The film explores issues of rehabilitation for those who have committed capital crimes and also questions whether the sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole raises human rights concerns.
Our post-film discussion featured Kenneth Hartman, in the the documentary and now out of prison, and his daughter Alia, along with Keith Wattley.
THE SENTENCE: Screening & Discussion
March 12 | New Parkway Theater
About the Screening: Join us for a screening and conversation with UnCommon Law’s Keith Wattley, Yoel Haile of the ACLU and Lara Bazelon - lawyer, activist and author of "Rectify: The Power of Restorative Justice After Wrongful Conviction." This event is co-presented with The Justice Collaborative and the ACLU of Northern California.
About the Film: Cindy Shank, mother of three, served a 15-year sentence in federal prison for her tangential involvement with a Michigan drug ring years earlier. Filmed by her brother, this intimate portrait follows Cindy and her family over ten years. Winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, The Sentence puts a face on the human consequences of mandatory minimums and acts as a powerful call-to-action for reform.
JUVIES: A Screening & Panel Discussion
Part of the “Week Against Mass Incarceration” by Nat’l Lawyers Guild at U.C. Berkeley Law School
Tuesday, March 5 at 6 PM
Boalt Hall, Room 240 - 225 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
About the Film: Twelve juveniles tried as adults were picked at random for a video workshop at Eastlake Juvenile Hall, Los Angeles. Their stories are inter-cut with commentary from academics, neurologists, a former D.A. of L.A. County, and others who discuss the trend in recent years across the United States to try juveniles as adults - more than 200,000 each year.
Panel Discussion to Follow: Featuring staff & former clients of UnCommon Law.
UNTOUCHABLE: Screening & Discussion
Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 6:30 PM
About the Screening: Uncommon Law screened the award-winning documentary UNTOUCHABLE and faciltated a talk afterwards with Director David Feige, Survivor Advocate Chelsea Miller and our Executive Director Keith Wattley.
About the Film: When a Florida lobbyist discovers his daughter has been sexually abused, he harnesses his extraordinary political influence to pass the toughest sex offender legislation in the country. UNTOUCHABLE chronicles his crusade and its impact on the lives of several of the 800,000 people forced to live under the laws he has championed.
PRISON TOWN, USA
December 11, 2018 The New Parkway Theater
About the Screening: UnCommon Law and The Place4Grace present Prison Town, USA as part of UnCommon Law's ongoing film series on stories of resistance, resilience, and redemption in American prisons. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with the founder of The Place4Grace, Karen McDaniel — an integral part of the educational, social service, and criminal justice reform arenas for more than 25 years.
About the Film: Prison Town, USA tells the story of Susanville, California, one small town that tries to resuscitate its economy by building a prison — with unanticipated consequences. The film sheds light on an industry that is transforming the social and economic landscape of rural America.
UnCommon Heroes 2018 : Reuniting Families
Wednesday, November 14, 6:30PM | The Impact Hub | 2323 Broadway, Oakland
Emcee: Emile DeWeaver
Presenters: Emily Harris (Ella Baker Center for Human Rights) & Keith Wattley (UnCommon Law Executive Director)
Hero Honorees: Karen McDaniel, Executive Director and co-founder of The Place4Grace & Sam Lewis, Director of Inside Programs at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition
THE FEMINIST ON CELLBLOCK Y
Tuesday, August 14, 6:45PM | The New Parkway Theater | 474 24th St. Oakland
“It can be dangerous to be a feminist in prison.”
Richard Edmond Vargas, serving a sentence in Soledad prison since he was a teen, teaches his fellow prisoners about toxic masculinity, vulnerability, and feminism.
“We cannot challenge our harmful behavior without challenging patriarchy,” – Richie Edmond Vargas.
Richie is being released from prison in July, and will join us to discuss his experience and this film!
SPEAKERS: Richie and his wife Taina Vargas-Edmond, co-founders of Initiate Justice.
The Pushouts
Monday, July 9 at 7PM | The Lark Theater | 549 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur
Tuesday, July 10, 6:45PM | The New Parkway Theater | 474 24th St. Oakland
“I was in prison before I was even born.” So begins the story of Dr. Victor Rios who, by 15, was a high school dropout and gang member with multiple felony convictions and a death wish. But when a teacher’s quiet persistence, a mentor’s moral conviction and his best friend’s murder converge, Rios’s path takes an unexpected turn. Through Rios’ personal lens and its interplay with stories of the young people of Watts, the Pushouts interrogates crucial questions of race, class and power – and the promise and perils of education – at a particularly urgent time.
SPEAKERS: The Pushouts star Victor Rios and National Center for Youth Law and UnCommon Law Board member Francis “Frankie” Guzman 2018 Winner of Juvenile Law Center Leadership Prize will be featured on the panel. Here’s a recent article on Frankie and Victor.
LOST FOR LIFE
Tuesday, May 8, 6:50pm | The New Parkway Theater | 474 24th St. Oakland
In the United States today, more than 2,500 individuals are serving life-without-parole sentences for crimes they committed when they were 17 years old or younger. Children as young as 13 are among the thousands serving these sentences. In partnership with The Bay Area Chapter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, we bring you Lost for Life, which tells the stories of these individuals, of their families and of the families of victims of juvenile murder.
SPEAKERS: Our panel discussion will feature Tinisch Hollins and Garry Malachi Scott from The Bay Area Chapter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Check out this recent article on Malachi.
SURVIVORS GUIDE TO PRISON
Tuesday, May 22, 6:30pm | The New Parkway Theater | 474 24th St. Oakland
You’re more likely to go to prison in the USA than any other country in the world, so if you’re in America you need a SURVIVORS GUIDE TO PRISON. The “Survivors” team is in the Bay Area for one night only, and they have invited UnCommon Law’s Keith Wattley to join the post-film discussion.
A chilling exposé of U.S. criminal justice, told through the eyes of 2 innocent men who spent decades facing unimaginable brutality, for murders they did not commit. Supported by gripping testimony from inmates, guards, staff, cops, analysts, lawyers and reformers, SURVIVORS GUIDE advocates evolving beyond the failed “prison punishment model” toward the dramatic moving programs proven to create public safety.
SPEAKERS: Jody Lewen from the Prison University Project, Northern California Innocence Project, Kenyatta Leal from The Last Mile, Dr. Kimberly Richman from Alliance for Change, Paul Rickett, and Obama Fellow and UnCommon Law Executive Director Keith Wattley will be featured on the panel.
15 TO LIFE: KENNETH’S STORY
Tuesday, June 12, 6:50pm | The New Parkway Theater | 474 24th St. Oakland
Does sentencing a teenager to life without parole serve our society well? The United States is the only country in the world that routinely condemns children to die in prison. This is the story of one of those children, now a young man, seeking a second chance in Florida. At age 15, Kenneth Young received four consecutive life sentences for a series of armed robberies. Imprisoned for more than a decade, he believed he would die behind bars. Now a U.S. Supreme Court decision could set him free.
UnCommon Law and National Center for Youth Law bring you 15 to Life: Kenneth’s Story, which follows Young’s struggle for redemption, revealing a justice system with thousands of young people serving sentences intended for society’s most dangerous criminals.
SPEAKERS: National Center for Youth Law and UnCommon Law Board member Francis “Frankie” Guzman 2018 Winner of Juvenile Law Center Leadership Prize will be featured on the panel. An article on Frankie.
Crime After Crime
Tuesday, April 10th | The New Parkway Theater | 474 24th Street | Oakland, CA
Crime After Crime is the story of the battle to free Debbie Peagler, an incarcerated survivor of brutal domestic violence. Over 26 years in prison cannot crush the spirit of this determined woman, despite the injustices she has experienced, first at the hands of a boyfriend who beat her and forced her into prostitution, and later by prosecutors who cornered her into a life behind bars for her connection to the murder of her abuser. Her story takes an unexpected turn two decades later when a pair of volunteer attorneys take on her case, and attract global attention to the troubled intersection of domestic violence and criminal justice.
SPEAKERS: After the film, stay to hear from award winning filmmaker Yoav Potash, former UnCommon Law client Alicia Nolan and UnCommon Law attorney Lilli Paratore, whose Equal Justice Works Fellowship is focused on parole policy change that recognizes the experience of gendered trauma and abuse.
The Return
Tuesday, March 13th | The New Parkway Theater | 474 24th Street | Oakland, CA
In 2012, California amended its “Three Strikes” law—one of the harshest criminal sentencing policies in the country. The passage of Prop. 36 marked the first time in U.S. history that citizens voted to shorten sentences of those currently incarcerated. Within days, the reintegration of thousands of “lifers” was underway. THE RETURN examines this unprecedented reform through the eyes of those on the front lines—prisoners suddenly freed, families turned upside down, reentry providers helping navigate complex transitions, and attorneys and judges wrestling with an untested law. At a moment of reckoning on mass incarceration, what can California’s experiment teach the nation?
After the film we met folks directly impacted by incarceration- including UnCommon Law Board member and former client Troy Williams, also a Root & Rebound client — and found out what it’s like to return home.
We also heard about the Voting Restoration and Democracy Act, an important initiative to restore voting rights to incarcerated and paroled people in California. Initiate Justice was on hand to show us how we can help get this on the ballot.
UnCommon Heroes 2017: Champions of Hope + Healing
November 15, 2017 | Impact Hub | 2323 Broadway, Oakland, CA
An UnCommon Celebration Honoring
Elizabeth Calvin, Senior Advocate, Human Rights Watch
Nate Williams, President, Choices for Freedom
Daniel “Nane” Alejandrez, Executive Director, Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos
Presenters included:
Danny Glover, Actor and Activist
Scott Budnick, Film Producer/Activist, Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition
James Cavitt, Master of Ceremonies
We honored Elizabeth Calvin, Nate Williams, and Daniel “Nane” Alejandrez – people who are working hard to bring both hope and healing to individuals and families devastated by harsh, misguided criminal justice policies. Elizabeth has authored and championed the most significant legislation in decades to guarantee that young people have a meaningful opportunity to come home from prison. Nate, a former UnCommon Law client, works as a mentor and regularly returns to prison to inspire others still locked inside. And Nane has been a champion in the fight for justice and humanity for young people since long before our laws recognized the differences between adults and children involved in serious crimes.
Life After Life
September 10, 2017, 4:00 pm | Lark Theater | 549 Magnolia Ave | Larkspur, CA 94939
Life After Life sets itself apart from other prison films by providing extraordinary access to the incarcerated men, facilities, experts, and leaders in the correctional system. Drawing on her background in grief support, filmmaker Tamara Perkins creates a safe environment for each subject, bringing authenticity to interviews that reveal sensitive, personal stories.
SPEAKERS: Tamara Perkins, Keith Wattley and those who have been impacted by incarceration.
Skid Row Marathon
Saturday, Aug 26, 2017, 4:00 pm | The Roxie Theater | 3117 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Film and discussion with filmmakers Mark and Gabriele Hayes, film stars Rafael Cabrera and Judge Craig Mitchell, and UnCommon Law’s Keith Wattley.
Rafael was convicted of the 1982 retaliation murder and attempted murder of two rival gang members. Locked up as a teenager and sentenced to life, he could have easily thrived in prison off of his reputation for violence, living in a haze of drugs and prison-made wine. Instead, Rafael became a model of change in some of California’s most violent prisons. His turnaround impressed prison staff, prosecutors, clergy, and others to the point where the prosecutor who showed up to oppose Rafael’s release was so blown away by his transformation that the prosecutor later wrote that he himself posed a greater risk to public safety than Rafael did.
That prosecutor-turned-judge, Craig Mitchell, was so fundamentally changed by the experience that he started the Skid Row Running club to support people in achieving positive life goals, and he continues to inspire and support people committed to turning their lives around.
UnCommon Law had the privilege of working with Rafael as he battled the parole board and the Governor to secure his release from prison after nearly three decades inside. He truly exemplifies what’s possible in the world.
They Call Us Monsters
May 30, 2017, 6:30 pm | Lark Theater | 549 Magnolia Ave | Larkspur, CA 94939
About the Film
In California, violent juveniles between 14-17 years old can be tried as adults. Typically, they are accused of heinous crimes — murders and attempted murders — that leave their victims’ families shattered. And yet, they are still kids, with a greater capacity to change and one day return to society. What is our responsibility to these kids? And to their victims? Do they deserve a second chance? These are the questions legislators are grappling with across the country as they attempt to reform our juvenile justice system. Meanwhile, behind the walls of the Compound, three violent juvenile offenders are writing a movie as they await their trials. It’s the story of their childhoods with the ending rewritten.
About the Subjects
JARAD: Arrested at 16 and facing 200 years-to-life for four attempted murders.
JUAN: Arrested at 16 and facing 90-to-life for first-degree murder.
ANTONIO: Arrested one month after his 14th birthday and facing 90-to-life for two attempted murders.
These film events directly support the work of UnCommon Law, enabling us to reach more people in prison and help them safely rejoin their families and communities. Please join us and spread the word!