What We Do
Our Work
The Shasta Equal Justice coalition is a network of organizations and individuals committed to working for fair and equal justice within the criminal justice system in our communities through advocacy, education, and strengthening partnerships.
We envision equity and justice for every community member, inclusive of all identities, backgrounds, or circumstances.
Together with our members and allies, we:
- advocate for access to data, greater transparency, accountability, and reduction of harm in interactions between community residents and law enforcement;
- educate about the consequences of bias and racial inequities and the need for culturally responsive training and approaches.
- strengthen partnerships among those working for fair and equal justice in Shasta County and work to create the conditions for trusting relationships between individuals and representatives of the criminal justice system.
We believe that equity means just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper and reach their full potential.
Meaningful Dialogue
We seek to engage in meaningful dialogue and action with criminal justice agencies in Shasta County including:
Member Organizations, Supporters, and Allies
We collaborate with a number of local groups and organizations that work for racial justice in our community, including the following:
Criminal Justice Organizations
Redding Police Department
Anderson Police Department
Shasta County’s Sheriff Office
Shasta County Probation
Shasta County District Attorney
California Highway Patrol
Our Sponsors
Equity and justice for every community member.
Discussion Points
SEJC representatives have addressed the Redding City Council and Shasta County Board of Supervisors on several occasions, advocated for the implementation of a Crisis Intervention Team approach that sends trained counselors with police handling calls involving individuals in mental distress; speaking against concerning, inappropriate social media posts made by a sheriff’s employee, and encouraging budget action that supports community-based policing and appropriate reforms.
SEJC Has Brought Forward the Following Discussions
Comprehensive, Ongoing Training on Systemic Bias, Structural Racism and Multicultural Awareness.
We have had conversations with law enforcement leaders about the importance of relevant, locally connected, and culturally responsive training that provides an opportunity for law enforcement professionals to learn about the cultural practices and values of local community groups. It is clear from conversations and interactions with a variety of community stakeholders that such training is foundational to officers’ understanding of the dynamics of engaging members of ethnic and marginalized communities.
Community Advisory Board
We advocate the creation of an advisory body, possibly appointed by the City Council, whose members include representation from a cross-section of the city’s population, including those impacted by the criminal justice system, those who were formerly incarcerated, representatives (at minimum) from the African-American, Latinx, Native, Asian, and White communities, members of the LGBTQ community, and those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
Improve Diversity of Department Personnel
We are engaging in conversations with the RPD and beginning conversations with others to examine recruitment, hiring, and retention practices that will lead to organizational cultures that are culturally responsive and inclusive, and more reflective of the populations we serve and our changing demographics.
Transparency
We have begun conversations to ask the RPD to make available data, broken down by age, gender, and ethnicity, related to arrests, charges, and use of force incidents, and the outcomes of such encounters.
Body Cams, Dash Cams
Body Cams provide an opportunity to guarantee the department has its own video perspective on any incident to go along with a video that increasingly is being provided by the public and security cameras. Video is as likely to prove professional police behavior as it is to provide accountability for poor behavior. Most importantly, we believe accepting the use of body cams would be a key element in building trust between law enforcement professionals and those whom they serve.