California Black Media

California Legislature Passes Law to Protect Incarcerated Pregnant Women

The California Senate recently approved a package of bills that expand protections for pregnant women who are incarcerated. Those bills are now awaiting final approval in the Assembly before moving to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration. Among the proposed bills, is Assembly Bill (AB) 2527 law that bans pregnant women and women up to 12 weeks postpartum from being placed in solitary confinement. However, the exception is if “there is a credible and imminent threat to the safety or security” of the woman.

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Among the proposed bills, is Assembly Bill (AB) 2527 law that bans pregnant women and women up to 12 weeks postpartum from being placed in solitary confinement. However, the exception is if “there is a credible and imminent threat to the safety or security” of the woman. The legislation requires that pregnant women receive daily portions of clean bottled water and meals that meet nutrition guidelines under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Another bill requires pregnant women to be referred to a social worker within one week of entering prison to talk about options for parenting classes. Additionally, the bills would require postpartum mothers to stay at a medical facility as recommended by a medical provider.

State lawmakers also proposed a bill that would reduce the number of empty state prison beds by 2030. The bill was introduced as a cost-effective measure that aims to cut costs and save the state money during a tough budget year. The bill is pushing for the state to close down more prisons to push back on mass incarceration that disproportionately affects Black people.

Currently, the state has approximately 15,000 empty prison beds costing the state millions annually to maintain the beds. The proposed bills would gradually reduce the number to 2,500 beds in the next six years, paving the way to close state prisons in the future.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 17 – 23, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 17 – 23, 2025

Published

5 days ago

December 20, 2025

Oakland Post

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Black Women’s Think Tank Founder Kellie Todd Griffin

As the president and CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Griffin is on a mission to shift the narrative and outcomes for Black women and girls. She founded the nation’s first Black Women’s Think Tank, securing $5 million in state funding to fuel policy change.

Published

1 week ago

December 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Kellie Todd Griffin. CBM file photo.

By Edward Henderson
California Black Media

With more than 25 years of experience spanning public affairs, community engagement, strategy, marketing, and communications, Kellie Todd Griffin is recognized across California as a leader who mobilizes people and policy around issues that matter.

Griffin spoke with California Black Media (CBM) about her successes and setbacks in 2025 and her hopes for 2026.

Looking back at 2025, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why? 

Our greatest achievement in this year is we got an opportunity to honor the work of 35 Black women throughout California who are trailblazing the way for the next generation of leaders.

How did your leadership, efforts and investments as president and CEO California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians? 

We’re training the next leaders. We have been able to train 35 women over a two-year period, and we’re about to start a new cohort of another 30 women. We also have trained over 500 middle and high school girls in leadership, advocacy, and financial literacy.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

Getting the question, “why.” Why advocate for Black women? Why invest in Black people, Black communities? It’s always constantly having to explain that, although we are aware that there are other populations that are in great need, the quality-of-life indices for Black Californians continue to decrease. Our life expectancies are decreasing. Our unhoused population is increasing. Our health outcomes remain the worst.

We’re not asking anyone to choose one group to prioritize. We are saying, though, in addition to your investments into our immigrant brothers and sisters – or our religious brothers and sisters – we are also asking you to uplift the needs of Black Californians. That way, all of us can move forward together.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

I’ve always been amazed by the joy of Black women in the midst of crisis.

That is really our secret sauce. We don’t let the current state of any issue take our joy from us. It may break us a little bit. We may get tired a little bit. But we find ways to express that – through the arts, through music, through poetry.

What is one lesson you learned in 2025 that will inform your decision-making next year?

Reset. It’s so important not to be sitting still. We have a new administration. We’re seeing data showing that Black women have the largest unemployment rate. We’ve lost so many jobs. We can have rest – we can be restful – but we have to continue the resistance.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians faced in 2025?

Motivation.

I choose motivation because of the tiredness. What is going to motivate us to be involved in 2026?

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

I want to get Black Californians in spaces and places of power and influence – as well as opportunities to thrive economically, socially, and physically.