By Alonzo Harvey, a rising senior at University of California Berkeley majoring in political science
My name is Alonzo Harvey, a 37-year-old father of three and a rising senior at Berkeley, where I major in political science and minor in public policy. I am a Berkeley Underground Scholar and a member of the Paper Prisons team. Additionally, I work with Chesa Boudin in the Criminal Law & Justice Center, analyzing district attorney training and policies for racial biases.
My journey through the criminal justice system opened my eyes to the stark realities of racial bias. From the moment of my arrest to my time behind bars, it became painfully clear that my experience was shaped not just by my actions, but by the color of my skin. Being a person of color meant that I was viewed and treated differently at every stage. The arresting officers, the prosecutors, the judges— all of them seemed to operate under a set of assumptions that worked against me because of my race.
During my incarceration, I saw a disproportionate number of Black and Brown faces, and conversations with fellow inmates revealed a common thread: many of us were serving harsher sentences than our white counterparts for similar or lesser offenses. This was not an anomaly but a reflection of a broader, systemic issue.
The racial bias in the system is evident in the statistics. According to the NAACP, African Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of white Americans. Additionally, Black and Hispanic individuals face longer sentences than their white counterparts for the same crimes. This disparity is not due to higher crime rates among these populations, but rather to systemic biases that view people of color as more dangerous and less redeemable.
The Racial Justice Act is crucial because it provides a mechanism for addressing injustices by allowing individuals to challenge their convictions and sentences based on evidence of racial bias. I have a friend who is also incarcerated and helps others with RJA claims. He was one of the first in-house lawyers to help file a case under Section 745, Subdivision (a)(3), out of Contra Costa County, having made a prima facie showing of racially discriminatory charging in violation of the RJA. His experience and understanding of the racial biases within the system underscore the importance of those directly impacted by these injustices leading the charge in such cases.
For those of us who have experienced the harsh realities of incarceration and racial discrimination, this act is a beacon of hope and a step towards a more equitable future. It empowers individuals to challenge injustices and demands accountability from a system that historically fails to deliver equal justice under the law.
