JAY-Z and Meek Mill’s criminal justice reform organization, REFORM Alliance, is celebrating its first major legislative victory.
On Wednesday (September 30), California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1950 into law — a legislation that was pushed forward in a campaign led by REFORM — which will drastically reshape California's probation system as it will limit adult probation sentence maximums to one year for misdemeanor offenses and two years for felony offenses.
“Americans across the country took to the streets this summer rightfully demanding more and better of our criminal justice system–and of ourselves,” Newsom said in a statement. “Still, we can and must do more. Working with our youth, faith and community leaders, law enforcement, the legislature and countless others demanding change, my administration remains committed to the important work ahead to make our criminal and juvenile justice systems fairer and safer for all Californians.”
In addition to Newsom receiving tons of calls for police and criminal justice reform from the public, REFORM campaigned hard for the bill, generating more than 3,000 emails to Newsom's desk, TMZ reports.
“I want to thank Governor Newsom for his leadership in signing AB 1950, the most transformative probation bill in this country to date,” JAY-Z said in a statement. “This is a first step that I hope introduces a wave of much needed change throughout the country.”
“By signing AB 1950 into law, Governor Newsom has further cemented his legacy as a champion for justice, redemption, and opportunity,” said Reform Alliance CEO Van Jones. “In a year that has been so challenging and difficult for so many, this reform marks a bright spot that will lead to better outcomes for individuals and families across California. I cannot thank the Governor enough for supporting this legislation. I look forward to working with him to make the measure even stronger and more meaningful in the coming year.”
REFORM Alliance launched in early 2019. The criminal justice reform organization, which was spearheaded by Jay-Z, Meek, and Michael Rubin, came to be, in part, as a response to Meek's re-imprisonment in November 2017 for a probation violation.
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