We’re helping people who have committed and experienced harm heal and come home from prison.

We’re showing what’s possible when we transform our responses to violence.

We’re building community strength and resilience.

Will you join us?

Keep scrolling to learn more about our campaign.

the campaign

How do we heal after harm happens?

Most people in prison today are serving time for serious or violent crimes. In California, 35,000 are sentenced to life in prison for these kinds of crimes, and will never return home unless granted their freedom by this parole board. These people are overwhelmingly Black, Brown, and poor, from communities disproportionately impacted by both violence and extreme prison sentences.

People who have done the work to transform their own lives after causing or experiencing harm have unique wisdom, and can lead us all in building systems that keep us safer. And often, the experiences and needs of those harmed by violence and those harmed by incarceration are all too similar. When people who have committed and experienced harm are given the tools to heal, connect, and work together, real change is possible.

UnCommon Law helps individuals sentenced to life heal from the harm they’ve both caused and experienced, and return home to their families, loved ones, and communities. Our work is restoring communities most adversely impacted by incarceration, and laying the groundwork for broad, transformative solutions to violence and harm.

Campaign Stories

 
 

Campaign Events

JUNE 11TH, 9:00 AM PST

Lifer School 2022

This one-day advocacy workshop for family members, loved ones, and advocates of people serving life sentences in California state prisons aims to demystify the Board of Parole process for communities facing life sentences. REGISTER HERE.

MAY 24TH, 12:00 PM PST

How We Heal: Reframing responses to violent crime (part 1)

Watch UnCommon Law and other advocates in a conversation that lays the groundwork about why and how hyper-punitive approaches are ineffective at preventing and addressing violence, and begin exploring other frameworks for safety. WATCH HERE.

JUNE 14TH, 12:00 AND 4:30 PM PST

How We Help: Sending Solidarity

Join us as we draft virtual postcards with messages of love and support! Postcards will be mailed directly to folks inside. Spend an hour with us as we spread love throughout cells across California! REGISTER HERE.

JUNE 23RD, 3:30 PM PST

How We Heal: Reframing responses to violent crime (part 2)

Join UnCommon Law and other advocates as we explore the intersecting experiences of survivors and perpetrators of harm, and the ways in which people who hold these identities can come together to build solutions that keep us all safer. WATCH HERE.

We are enormously grateful to many people for their contributions to this campaign, including: Demian and Ann Johnson, Alia and Ken Hartman, Israel Garcia, Radha Stern, Charlie Spence, Justin Bench and Upside Reports, and Jodi Munson.