FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2026
Press Contact:
Ashley Chambers, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
ashley@ellabakercenter.org, 925-953-2302
2026-27 May Revise Invests More Funding in Prisons, Falls Short for Impacted Communities
“Real Safety is Built by Investing in People, Not in Prison Cells“
SACRAMENTO — After the recent release of the 2026-27 May Revision Budget, which shows $14.6 billion for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and limited funding for survivors, the Ella Baker Center released the following statement from Policy Director Eric Henderson:
“If California wants to truly lead on progress and public safety, the state must rightsize CDCR’s budget and support the needs of incarcerated elders and survivors. With an investment of $400 million, the Governor could balance budget cuts to healthcare and essential social services, fund trauma recovery centers, and invest an additional $75 million in VOCA funding to support survivors — including incarcerated survivors who have been harmed by correctional officers.
We are in a critical time that calls for smart budget solutions to reduce prison spending. It is time for the state to prioritize prison closures and releases for incarcerated elders. Real safety is built by investing in people, in community resources, and in the full humanity of incarcerated people — not in prison cells.”
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For 30 years, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights has advanced people-powered campaigns for racial and economic justice—and we are winning. Named after civil rights hero Ella Baker, we shift resources away from prisons and punishment towards opportunities that make our communities safe, healthy, and strong. ellabakercenter.org