— Willem VandeKamp, First Church Liaison to Interfaith Coalition for Justice in Jails (ICJJ)
In response to community outcry about the incarceration of people with mental illness, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors adopted a policy of Care First, Jails Last in 2021.
The fundamental goal of this policy is to “develop a continuum of care that includes a full spectrum of treatment and housing in order to reduce the number of people with mental illness, substance use and co-occurring disorders in our jail.” A county task force made up of impacted community members and representatives of county agencies developed a plan to meet these goals.
On May 23, 2024, the Task Force adopted 58 recommendations for presentation to the Board of Supervisors to make Care First a reality in Alameda county. It is now up to the Board of Supervisors to approve and fund them.
What You Can Do: Call and/or email County Board President Nate Miley, urging him to put the “Care First, Jails Last” recommendations on the agenda for approval now! You’ll find below templates for your call or email.
Because First Church Berkeley is a member of ICJJ, you are asked to make that call or send that email. You’ll also have an opportunity to make the call or send an email by visiting the ICJJ table in Loper Chapel during our Service as Worship Sunday Aug. 11. Thank you.
To Call Supervisor Miley or Leave a Voice Message:
Dial – (510) 272 – 6694
Call Script Template: Hello, my name is ____. I’m a resident of Alameda County, supporting the Care First Jails Last policy. Supervisor Miley: The Task Force your Board authorized 3 years ago to propose a county-wide implementation plan has delivered their recommendations. Your active support for these recommendations is crucial. As President of the Board of Supervisors only you can put these recommendations on the agenda for a full Board hearing and vote. Please do so right away! For the wellbeing of all Alameda County residents.
To Send an Email:
Subject line: President Miley: Please, put the Care First Jails Last Recommendations on the Board Agenda Now!
Send to: Nate Miley, Supervisor for District 4 and President of the Board: [email protected]; cc: Erin Armstrong, Staff for Sup. Miley: [email protected]
Email Template:
Dear Supervisor Miley,
My name is ____ and I am a proud resident of Alameda County. Today, I’m urging you to 1) immediately agendize a Board of Supervisors vote on the full list of recommendations presented by the Care First Jails Last Task Force, 2) actively support the approval of these recommendations, and 3) ensure that Alameda County’s budget enables the implementation of the Care First Jails Last Recommendations. As the President of the Board, only you can put Care First Jails Last on the agenda – and I sincerely hope that you do so as soon as possible. The time for investment and implementation of Care First is now!
I strongly believe that Alameda County residents deserve a fully resourced community-based continuum of care that includes housing, diversion, and treatment, alongside interagency data coordination. These are the investments that will keep us all safe and healthy, and prevent chronic cycles of incarceration.
Sincerely,
Your name and address