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Welcome to the Freedom Archives' Digital Search Engine.The Freedom Archives contains over 12,000 hours of audio and video recordings which date from the late-1960s to the mid-90s and chronicle the progressive history of the Bay Area, the United States, and international movements. We are also in the process of scanning and uploading thousands of historical documents which enrich our media holdings. Our collection includes weekly news, poetry, music programs; in-depth interviews and reports on social and cultural issues; numerous voices from behind prison walls; diverse activists; and pamphlets, journals and other materials from many radical organizations and movements.

The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)

The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations, based in Northern California, was a council of prisoner, ex-prisoner, self-help and other community groups working with prisoners and ex-prisoners to exchange information on existing services and to unite common efforts in dealing with the serious deficiencies in the total system of criminal justice. The primary focus of the council was to reduce the level of inhumanity, injustice, and cruelty in the state prisons and to restore the basic human and civil rights to prisoners and former prisoners of California's penal institutions. The basic guiding principle of the council was that incarceration for short periods of time is punishment enough and any other denial of basic human and constitutional rights is inconsistent with the principles of humanity and justice, and detrimental to the best interests of society. 

This collection contains organizing documents, correspondence, and other materials related to the Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO) and the Bay Area Prison Coalition. These include materials for a convention in 1972, a conference on the problem of prisons in the 1980s, information connected to proposed legislative reforms, a report calling for an alternative to indeterminate sentencing, efforts to instate a prison construction moratorium, and more. These materials were received as part of a donation from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).

Documents

Construction Moratorium Construction Moratorium
Call Number: Format: StatementCollection: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
This statement calls for a prison construction moratorium, citing statistics related to the cost of imprisoning people per cell. It responds to a call from the governor for the construction of two new prisons.
Coordinating Council of Prison Organizations/Bay Area Prison Coalition Convention Coordinating Council of Prison Organizations/Bay Area Prison Coalition Convention
Publisher: Coordinating Council of Prison OrganizationYear: 1974Call Number: Format: FlyerCollection: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
For a convention held on December 2-3, 1974 at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, CA by the Coordinating Council of Prison Organization and Bay Area Prison Coalition. Includes short descriptions of convention subjects and sections.
CCPO and Bay Area Prison Coalition Convention Schedule CCPO and Bay Area Prison Coalition Convention Schedule
Publisher: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)Date: 12/1972Call Number: Format: Event ProgramCollection: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
The program and schedule for a convention organized by the Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations and the Bay Area Prison Coalition at UC Medical Center in San Francisco.
CCPO and BAPC Call to the Convention CCPO and BAPC Call to the Convention
Publisher: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)Year: 1972Call Number: Format: PamphletCollection: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
A pamphlet enclosing information regarding the upcoming Prison Convention on December 2-3, 1972 at the UC Medical Center in San Francisco. Includes a registration form, solicitation of suggestions, convention agenda and by-laws, and more. The document articulates the need to determine priorities of prisoner support groups and organizations through the process of planning the convention.
Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations - Press Release on Violence at San Quentin Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations - Press Release on Violence at San Quentin
Publisher: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)Date: 8/24/1971Call Number: Format: Press ReleaseCollection: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
A press release issued by the Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations denouncing the recent violence and deaths that occurred at San Quentin Prison on August 21, 1971. The statement suggests the violent outburst is a result of serious deficiencies throughout the criminal justice system and urges several actions be immediately taken to address concerns.
Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations Workshop Summaries [May 10, 1980 Conference] Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations Workshop Summaries [May 10, 1980 Conference]
Publisher: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)Year: 1980Call Number: Format: ReportCollection: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
This report includes workshop summaries from the Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations May 10, 1980 Conference at Laney College in Oakland, CA. It includes summaries from the legislative workshop, community organizing strategies workshop, and self-help groups strategies workshop. It also includes a conference summary which articulates the need to develop principles of unity.
Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations Info Pamphlet Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations Info Pamphlet
Publisher: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)Call Number: Format: PamphletCollection: The Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO)
This informational pamphlet includes background on the founding of the Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations, Bill of Rights for Prisoners, and a list of participating orgs in the Coordinating Council of Prisoner Organizations (CCPO).