Felony Murder Elimination Project wants to inform our supporters and advocates of the opportunity to offer feedback about California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – CDCR – proposed regulations.

Dates to remember:

• Public comment period opens: September 5, 2025
• Deadline to submit comments: Midnight on October 21, 2025
• Public hearing: October 30, 2025

How to participate:

In this link is a short handout with step-by-step instructions on how any member of the public, including incarcerated people, can provide written and oral comments. This resource is designed both for anyone writing their own comments and for those supporting incarcerated people in submitting comments from inside.

Why it matters:

Public comments are a powerful way to:

• Highlight concerns with proposed regulations.
• Share lived experiences that may otherwise go unheard.
• Ensure decision-makers understand the impact on families, communities, and incarcerated people.

Taking the opportunity provide feedback on corrections policy, especially feedback from incarcerated people and their loved ones, is crucial because it incorporates the direct, lived experiences of incarcerated people and their families to create more effective, humane, and rehabilitative systems. Additionally, understanding the needs and experiences of incarcerated individuals allows for the development of evidence-based programs in carceral settings, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, education and work skill trainings that address potential community re-entry risk factors.

The overall goal sharing these experiences is to improve outcomes like reducing recidivism and increasing the likelihood to successfully reintegrate into communities. This feedback informs policymakers in understanding the real-world consequences of policies and identify necessary changes to facility environments and programs, ultimately fostering a culture of change and support that benefits incarcerated individuals, their families, and the community. 

We encourage everyone to review the handout and consider submitting a comment before the October 21st deadline. Please also share this resource widely, including with family members and inside networks.