Following is a recent announcement by Corrections USA, an umbrella organization and organizing body for "corrections professionals," meaning public sector corrections officers (CO's). Though run by and representing members from around the country, it has been funded by and initiated by the CCPOA (California Correctional Peace Officers' Association: California's correctional officers' union). Following is an announcement to form a national Correctional Officers' Political Action Committee (PAC). Undoubtedly, the thrust of this PAC will be to exert national pressure toward continued expansion of the prison system, prison and police power and a bankrolling of the tough-on-crime movement and law and order propaganda.



ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CORRECTIONS USA (CUSA)

LOCPAC: Loyal Order of Corrections PAC, the first ever national 
Political Action Committee designed specifically and ONLY for Corrections
professionals was unanimously supported by the CUSA Board of Directors at
our Nevada conference. This is a historic event in our professions
history. LOCPAC will be Chaired by CCPOA Executive VP Mike Jimenez. CCPOA
founder and President, Don Novey, known in political circles from coast to
coast as the creator and leader behind the most successful CO's PAC in the
country has agreed to act as consultant and advisor to the Committee. Don's
expertise is sought far and wide by a variety of law enforcement PACs. His
presentation at the conference was terrific and his agreement to work with
us is a major victory for our profession.

"We will be finalizing LOCPAC's by laws for adoption at a Board
meeting tentatively being scheduled for September 12th in Buffalo NY.
Several organizations asked to sign on even BEFORE the draft was finalized.
The excitement this is creating is tremendous. If you are interested in
supporting this first and only Correctional PAC contact us right away."




PAC (POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE) - A political action committee is a political group formed by organizations and/or individuals to achieve increased "political influence" through funding and lobbying. Generally organized around a common area or goal, it combines the moneys and initial political influence of individual entities into a stronger, combined force, most notably allowing these organizations to maneuver around campaign finance and contribution limits, as contributions through a PAC don't count toward a body's typical limits.

THE CCPOA & DON NOVEY - The CCPOA (California Correctional Peace Officers' Association) is arguably the most powerful political body in California politics. During the tenure of its president, Don Novey, they've expanded their ranks exponentially and raised the salaries of CO's above those of California public school teachers. Their power comes directly from the funding that they can contribute or not contribute to political candidates and legislative campaigns. They have proven through their funding campaigns and actions time and again to hold a major stake in prison expansion, best known for bankrolling California's 3 STRIKES LAW (1994, mandated that a third felony conviction be given 25 years to life in prison), PROPOSITION 21 (1999, written by political ally and CCPOA campaign finance recipient, Pete Wilson, making it mandatory for children arrested for certain crimes to be sentenced as adults, and passing a variety of draconian provisions allowing the state to lock up more children for longer periods, including one where cases of vandalism of $400 damage or more is treated as a felony instead of a misdemeanor [refer to 3 STRIKES]), and a limited contribution of $100,000 against PROPOSITION 36 (2000, mandated that individuals convicted of nonviolent drug crimes be given treatment instead of prison time). It is speculated that the reason they "allowed" current California Governor Gray Davis to win his campaign is because he promised to build a new prison, the DELANO II prison now held up in litigation.