California Correctional Peace Officers Association
Encyclopedia
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA), founded in 1957 as the California Correctional Officers Association (CCOA), is the corrections officers' labor union
in California
. The CCPOA is widely considered one of the most powerful political forces in California politics. CCPOA made the largest contribution to the No on 5 Campaign in 2008, contributing one million dollars. CCPOA president Don Novey established the union's tradition of forming close alliances and friendships with political leaders during the 1980s.
, committed suicide. This prompted Officer Al Mello and eight fellow officers, five of which were Correctional Lieutenants concerned with the pay scale and working conditions, to start traveling to the three existing state prisons (Folsom
, Soledad, and San Quentin) to rally support for the creation of a union dedicated to representing the correctional officer series. In 1957, the California Correctional Officers Association (CCOA) was formed with members from each adult institution. Almost immediately, law enforcement officers from the California Youth Authority
, Youth and Adult Paroles, and Medical Technical Assistants began to inquire about membership.
Until the 1980s, unionized prison guards were relatively weak politically in California, with membership divided between the California State Employees Association
and the CCOA. Don Novey led a successful effort during the 1980s to combine California Youth Authority supervisors and parole officer
s with prison guards, launching the CCPOA's rise to prominence. The CCPOA's membership increased substantially. Novey was an aggressive lobbyist
and helped bring the union to a position of great influence in Sacramento
politics, eventually becoming one of the most powerful unions in the state.
By 1992, the CCPOA was California's second largest political action committee
, contributing over a million dollars to legislative candidates. The CCPOA also contributed over a million dollars to Pete Wilson
's successful 1990 gubernatorial campaign
, the largest independent campaign contribution on behalf of a candidate in California history. The CCPOA subsequently backed Gray Davis
's successful campaign for governorship in 1998.
The CCPOA has supported campaigns for tougher criminal sentences, including large contributions to the 1994 campaign for Proposition 184, the 'three strikes
' ballot initiative, which puts repeat offenders behind bars for lengthy terms.
, CCPOA political activity routinely exceeds that of all other labor unions in California. The union spends heavily on influencing political campaigns, and on lobbying
legislators and other government officials. CCPOA also hires public relations firms and political polling firms.
As calls for reform of the state's prison system escalated during 2006, putting pressure on current governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
to take a more aggressive stance on reform, the union's seemingly friendly relationship with the governor has cooled.
.http://www.cjcj.org/cpp/political_power.php
s.http://www.cjcj.org/pdf/cal_prison_politics.pdf
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The CCPOA is widely considered one of the most powerful political forces in California politics. CCPOA made the largest contribution to the No on 5 Campaign in 2008, contributing one million dollars. CCPOA president Don Novey established the union's tradition of forming close alliances and friendships with political leaders during the 1980s.
Mission
The mission of the CCPOA is to "promote and enhance the correctional profession, protect the safety of those engaged in corrections and advocate for the laws, funding and policies needed to improve prison operations and protect public safety."Membership
The CCPOA union members currently pay $79.87 per month to the union. As of 2002, the union had 31,000 members, at which time union dues totaled $21.9 million per year.History
In the 1950s, an officer, despondent over working conditions at San Quentin State PrisonSan Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
, committed suicide. This prompted Officer Al Mello and eight fellow officers, five of which were Correctional Lieutenants concerned with the pay scale and working conditions, to start traveling to the three existing state prisons (Folsom
Folsom State Prison
Folsom State Prison is a California State Prison located in the city of Folsom, California, northeast from the state capital of Sacramento. Opened in 1880, Folsom is the second-oldest prison in the state of California after San Quentin and was the first in the country to have electricity...
, Soledad, and San Quentin) to rally support for the creation of a union dedicated to representing the correctional officer series. In 1957, the California Correctional Officers Association (CCOA) was formed with members from each adult institution. Almost immediately, law enforcement officers from the California Youth Authority
California Division of Juvenile Justice
The California Division of Juvenile Justice , formerly known as the California Youth Authority , is a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that provides education, training, and treatment services for California's most serious youth offenders...
, Youth and Adult Paroles, and Medical Technical Assistants began to inquire about membership.
Until the 1980s, unionized prison guards were relatively weak politically in California, with membership divided between the California State Employees Association
California State Employees Association
The California State Employees Association , was founded in 1932 in Sacramento, California. Its early achievements include creation of the first retirement system for California state workers , creation of a credit union for state employees, winning collective bargaining rights for state and...
and the CCOA. Don Novey led a successful effort during the 1980s to combine California Youth Authority supervisors and parole officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
s with prison guards, launching the CCPOA's rise to prominence. The CCPOA's membership increased substantially. Novey was an aggressive lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
and helped bring the union to a position of great influence in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
politics, eventually becoming one of the most powerful unions in the state.
By 1992, the CCPOA was California's second largest political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
, contributing over a million dollars to legislative candidates. The CCPOA also contributed over a million dollars to Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
's successful 1990 gubernatorial campaign
California gubernatorial election, 1990
The 1990 California gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1990. The Republican nominee, Senator Pete Wilson, narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee, former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein, who would later go on to win Wilson's Senate seat....
, the largest independent campaign contribution on behalf of a candidate in California history. The CCPOA subsequently backed Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
's successful campaign for governorship in 1998.
The CCPOA has supported campaigns for tougher criminal sentences, including large contributions to the 1994 campaign for Proposition 184, the 'three strikes
Three strikes law
Three strikes laws)"are statutes enacted by state governments in the United States which require the state courts to hand down a mandatory and extended period of incarceration to persons who have been convicted of a serious criminal offense on three or more separate occasions. These statutes became...
' ballot initiative, which puts repeat offenders behind bars for lengthy terms.
Political activity
The CCPOA is deeply involved in a variety of political activities. Most spending is done through political action committees. Although its membership is relatively small, representing only about one tenth the membership of the California Teachers AssociationCalifornia Teachers Association
The California Teachers Association , initially established in 1863 as the California Educational Society, is by far the largest teachers' union in the state of California. It is considered by many to be the most powerful union in California...
, CCPOA political activity routinely exceeds that of all other labor unions in California. The union spends heavily on influencing political campaigns, and on lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
legislators and other government officials. CCPOA also hires public relations firms and political polling firms.
As calls for reform of the state's prison system escalated during 2006, putting pressure on current governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
to take a more aggressive stance on reform, the union's seemingly friendly relationship with the governor has cooled.
Lobbying
Lobbying efforts and campaign contributions by the CCPOA have helped secure passage of numerous legislative bills favorable to union members, including bills that increase prison terms, member pay, and enforce current drug laws. The CCPOA takes the position that correctional officers perform an essential public service that puts in great danger, and strives for a safer CaliforniaPolitical action committees
CCPOA has many political action committees, according to a report in the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
.http://www.cjcj.org/cpp/political_power.php
Criticism
CCPOA critics assert that the union has become too powerful in California politics, that it has used its power to unfair advantage, and that it has been an impediment to constructive debate and openness about the state of California prisons. The union has been criticized for the way it uses its relationship with crime victims, including its financing of two statewide victims' advocacy groupAdvocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
s.http://www.cjcj.org/pdf/cal_prison_politics.pdf
See also
- California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationCalifornia Department of Corrections and RehabilitationThe California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is responsible for the operation of the California state prison and parole systems. CDC&R is the second largest law enforcement or police agency in the United States behind the New York City Police Department which employs approximately...
- List of United States state prisons
External links
- CCPOA.org - California Correctional Peace Officers Association (official website)
- PrisonsUnderPressure.com - A CCPOA-sponsored documentary that examines some of the root causes of prison overcrowding.
- CJCJ.org - 'Political Power of the CCPOA: The Cycle of CCPOA Influence', Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice
- CCPOA News Blog - Official news blog for CCPOA focusing on corrections within California and throughout the U.S.