CALIFORNIA—The state of California is the first state to ban for-profit prisons and civil detention centers. Assemblymember Rob Bonta representing Oakland, Alameda and San Leandro was the first to propose AB 32.
The ban was met with support from community organizations and politicians including presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders urged California’s Governor Gavin Newsom to sign AB 32 via Twitter on October 11.
“Thanks to the work of community organizers, including @CIYJA and @CA4ImmiJustice, California has the opportunity to have the strongest private prison ban in the country. I urge Gov. Newsom to sign #ab32 and ban all private prisons, including private immigration detention,” said Sanders via Twitter.
The state of California currently holds four contracts with private for-profit prisons and detention centers, which will be completely phased out by 2028. AB 32 will stop the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from renewing any contract with private companies. The ban will take effect on January 2020.
“CA is officially banning the use of private, for-profit prisons and immigration detention facilities. The multi-billion dollar industry turning a profit off of incarcerated people must come to an end. No more in California,” tweeted Governor Newsom on Saturday, October 12.
