Rapper Common and PCJP lobby for criminal justice reform

By: Gilien Silsby

Common and Heidi Rummel

USC Post-Conviction Justice Project Director Heidi Rummel joined the rapper Common to help shine a light on criminal justice bills – including  SB 394 which USC law students helped draft and promote.

They met with state lawmakers in Sacramento in conjunction with the Imagine Justice concert on the Capitol mall grounds featuring Common, J.Cole, Goapele and Los Rakas.

“It was powerful,” said Rummel. “To see so many people come together to support a different vision of justice and send a message of hope.”

USC’s PCJP currently represents dozens of youth offenders, serving adult life sentences, and seeking release under criminal reforms passed in the past several years.