THE PEOPLE IN BLUE
Reimagining California’s Prisons from the Inside
The People in Blue (TPIB) a diverse coalition of stakeholders with over two centuries of incarcerated experience. Our goal is to reduce harm, create safer communities, and minimize California’s need and over-reliance on prisons and institutions.
Our Story
On the night of March 17, 2023, Steve Brooks and Arthur Jackson were in their fifth-tier cell in the North Block housing unit at San Quentin State Prison. They had just returned from Gov. Gavin Newsom's press conference and they were debriefing each other on the day's events. After listening to the governor's speech, Brooks and Jackson believed the governor was about to embark on another failed attempt at prison reform. The two took turns pacing the small cell floor knowing that this was their moment to do something to help this governor develop a workable model for prison reform.
