AB 1226 – Proximity for Children with Incarcerated Parents

How does it align with yli’s values?

yli partners with thousands of youth across the state, the majority of whom are low-income youth of color. Many of them bear the brunt of our state’s harmful “justice” system, not least of which is the traumatizing experience of being separated from parents and caretakers, who play a critical role in the development of their children. Data shows that up until the age of 18, frequent contact between the child and their parent is crucial for the child’s behavioral and emotional development.

Currently, about 195,000 children have incarcerated parents in California state prisons. Due to sudden separation from their caregiver, children with incarcerated parents experience unique issues such as antisocial behavior and drug abuse. However, children who are able to maintain contact with their parents experience less severe harmful impacts. AB 1226 removes contact barriers between children and their incarcerated parents or caregivers by requiring CDCR to assign the incarcerated person to serve their term in the institution closest to their minor child’s home.

This policy aligns with our Racial Justice Platform, which addresses the disproportionate impact of the Prison Industrial Complex on Black, Indigenous and other people of color.

What is yli doing about it?

We have just submitted a letter endorsing this bill, and we are showing our support on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.