Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)

ARC focuses on California and lobbies the California legislature on many criminal justice bills to expand funding for inmate services and to make it easier for inmates to be released on parole. ¹ The organization was founded by Scott Budnick, a Hollywood producer most notable for The Hangover, and has several other Hollywood actors and producers on its advisory board. ²

Background

The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) was founded in 2013 by film producer Scott Budnick, who at the time was the executive vice president of Green Hat Films and had produced several comedy films including The Hangover series. Budnick decided to start the organization after a friend had invited him to attend a writing workshop for juvenile detainees conducted by the InsideOUT Writers program. Budnick began teaching writing classes at the detention center regularly and noticed that many returned to incarceration after not long on the outside. He began ARC as an annual camping trip to mentor former juvenile detainees and young adult inmates, and since its initial founding in 2013, the organization has expanded with several programs that also lobby to change criminal justice laws in California to benefit current and former juvenile detainees and inmates. ³

As of 2023, ARC claimed over 6,000 lifetime members within the state of California, while reporting 2,269 members joining in 2023 alone. ⁴

Activity

The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) advocates in favor of left-of-center policy towards criminal justice reform. Changes to California’s criminal laws that were supported by the organization include allowing juveniles sentenced to life without parole the ability to obtain parole, prohibiting 14- and 15-year-olds from being tried as adults or being placed in adult prisons, and granting voting rights to nearly 50,000 ex-convicts who are out on parole. ⁵

In addition to lobbying on public policy, ARC still provides counseling and assistance services to inmates and ex-convicts. The organization boasts an 11% recidivism rate among its members, although the California Association of Deputy District Attorneys points out that the organization’s participants are part of a self-selective group of motivated inmates. The organization begins its programming with peer counseling services while inmates are still in prison and provides a variety of services such as housing, counseling, and career development with an emphasis on job placement in the film and construction industries. Government partners of the organization include the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Conservation Corps. ⁶

Check the Sheriff Coalition

Check the Sheriff Coalition is a coalition in Los Angeles, California formed to oppose the policies and actions of then-Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. ARC advocated for Sherriff Villanueva resign, and that the California Attorney General investigate the Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department (LASD). ⁷ The Anti-Recidivism Coalition is a member of the coalition. ⁸

People

Scott Budnick is the founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), starting the organization in 2013. Budnick was previously the executive Vice President of film production company Green Hat Films and was involved in the production of several movies including The Hangover film trilogy. ⁹

Sam Lewis is the executive director of ARC as of 2025. Formerly incarcerated, Lewis was previously the director of prison activist group Inside Programs and also founded the Hope And Redemption Team (HART) made of former life incarcerated persons from the state of California. ¹⁰

Funding

According to Foundation Search, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) has received funding from the following organizations between 2016 and 2021: ¹¹

On its 2022 tax return, the Sacrament District Council reported donating $113,184 to ARC. ¹²

Financials

The organization has been tax-exempt since April 2013. According to its 2022 990 form, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) reported a revenue of $28,365,184, expenses at $16,246,618, and total assets of $39,847,571. ¹³

According to its 2021 990 form, ARC reported a revenue of $21,347,280, expenses of $10,366,113, and total assets of $25,012,840. ¹⁴