The California Coalition for Women Prisoners is a left-of-center advocacy group that supports radical criminal justice policy changes including the abolition of prisons and reparations payments to former prisoners. ¹

Background

The California Coalition for Women Prisoners was founded 1995 following the filing of Shumate v. Wilson, a lawsuit by Charisse Shumate in which she claimed women prisoners were given improper medical care in California prisons. However, the group formally was created as a nonprofit entity in 1989 under the name “Network on Women in Prison: Legal Services for Prisoners with C[hildren]” and as of 2024 remains registered with the Internal Revenue Service under that name. ^{2 1}

Activity

The California Coalition for Women Prisoners describes itself as an “abolitionist” organization aiming to abolish prisons that engage in punishment as supporting criminal justice policy reform to increase focus on employment and education. The group claims the United States’ criminal justice system engages in “institutional violence” against women, those that identify as transgender, and racial minorities. ¹

The organization’s main activity is a correspondence and visitation program in collaboration with female prisons in the state of California. To that end, the group also publishes The Fire Inside, a newsletter collaboration project between women prisoners in California, former prisoners, and aligned activists. ^{3 4}

The group also maintains advocacy campaigns and initiatives on criminal justice policies including “DROP LWOP,” a coalitional campaign to end life without parole sentencing, and  Cross Bars and Borders, a project claiming to build a network of international organizations opposed to prison systems. ^{5 6 4}

The group also maintains a speakers program featuring formerly incarcerated women, as well as transgender-identifying and gender-nonconforming individuals who deliver addresses to audiences on issues relating to prison life, reentry into civilian life, and incarceration in general. ⁷

Policy

The California Coalition for Women Prisoners supported a provision of the California state budget signed into law on July 13, 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newson (D) that provided funding for reparations to former inmates who were sterilized while incarcerated in women’s prisons after 1979. In addition, the organization provides individuals seeking to claim compensation under this provision with informational resources and application assistance. ⁸

Leadership

Dorsey Nunn is the executive director of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Previously, he worked for the organization as a paralegal, program manager, and community organizer. Additionally, he worked as a paralegal in a prison law office in the institution where he was serving after being convicted of murder before being paroled in 1981. ^{9 10 11}

George Galvis is the chair of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners’ board of directors as well as the cofounder and executive director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, an aligned organization. Previously, Galvis was incarcerated at the age of 17 following his involvement in a drive-by shooting. ^{12 10}

1. “Our Story.” California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://womenprisoners.org/about-us/
2. “Network on Women in Prison.” ProPublica. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943080408
3. “The Fire Inside.” California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://womenprisoners.org/the-fire-inside/
4. “Programs and Campaigns.” California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://womenprisoners.org/programs/
5. “Cross Bars & Borders – Growing International Solidarity.” California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://womenprisoners.org/firestorm-international-solidarity/
6. Homepage. DROP LWOP Coalition. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://droplwop.com/
7. “Spitfire Speakers Bureau.” California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://womenprisoners.org/spitfire-speakers-bureau/
8. “Reparations 4 Reproductive Justice Behind Bars.” California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://womenprisoners.org/reparations-4-reproductive-justice-behind-bars/
9. “Dorsey Nunn interview with Pastor Mike Mcbride.” LiveFree. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://livefreeusa.org/interviews/dorsey-nunn-interview-with-pastor-mike-mcbride/
10. Network On Women In Prison. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. (Form 990), 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943080408/202442509349300209/full
11. Romney, Lee. “Formerly incarcerated activist fights to give people a chance to change.” Los Angeles Times. March 13, 2015. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-dorsey-nunn-20150313-story.html#:~:text=Drug%20use%20in%20his%20teen,alleged%20to%20be%20the%20triggerman.
12. “Circle Members, Steering Committee: Goerge Galvis.” Circle for Justice and Innovation. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://cjifund.org/dt_team/george-galvis/#:~:text=George%20Galvis%20is%20the%20Co,violence%20plaguing%20Bay%20Area%20communities.