Recent csw_policybriefs items

Release Elderly Lifers to Reduce Mass Incarceration

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Release Elderly Lifers to Reduce Mass Incarceration

Long-Term Incarcerated People Need Retirement Benefits

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Long-Term Incarcerated People Need Retirement Benefits

Unequal Punishment: Repealing Felony Murder Special Circumstances

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Unequal Punishment: Repealing Felony Murder Special Circumstances

Stop "Crimmigration!" Stop Southeast Asian Refugee Deportations!

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Stop "Crimmigration!" Stop Southeast Asian Refugee Deportations!

Ensuring Access to Rehabilitative Programs and Ending Discrimination Against People Serving Life Without Parole

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ensuring Access to Rehabilitative Programs and Ending Discrimination Against People Serving Life Without Parole

Incarceration and Mental Wellness are Incommensurable—A Call to Decarcerate

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Incarceration and Mental Wellness are Incommensurable—A Call to Decarcerate

Restorative Justice for Curbing Campus Sexual Assault

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Restorative Justice for Curbing Campus Sexual Assault

Immigrant Female Farmworkers in California Need Greater Protection Against Sexual Harrasment

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Immigrant Female Farmworkers in California Need Greater Protection Against Sexual Harrasment

Addressing the Epidemic of Sexual Assault in California's Immigrant Detention Centers

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Addressing the Epidemic of Sexual Assault in California's Immigrant Detention Centers

Creating Accessible Campuses Through Fragrance-Free Policies

Wed, 10 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Creating Accessible Campuses Through Fragrance-Free Policies

Limiting Exposure to Phthalates in Personal Care Products

Tue, 9 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Limiting Exposure to Phthalates in Personal Care Products

Promoting Safer Cosmetics through Comprehensive Legislation

Tue, 9 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Promoting Safer Cosmetics through Comprehensive Legislation

Reducing Everyday Exposure to Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products Can Improve Women's Health

Tue, 9 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Reducing Everyday Exposure to Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products Can Improve Women's Health

Establishing Oversight for India’s Street Vendors Act

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

India’s Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014 was created to regulate street-vending activities and to protect the rights of the vendors. The Act calls for the creation of free vending zones and Town Vending Committees for each locality. While the Act is still in the implementation phase, there are signs that progress toward change has been slow and uneven, requiring refocusing of legislation to apply pressure in areas where changes are not being implemented.

Supporting Female Street Vendors in Los Angeles

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Although the exact number of informal street vendors in Los Angeles is difficult to ascertain, the number appears to be growing, following the recent economic recession.While street vending is technically illegal, approximately 50,000 vendors may be seen throughout the city, selling goods ranging from bacon-wrapped hot dogs and pupusas, to clothing, flowers, and jewelry.

Protecting the Rights of Massage Parlor Workers

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Across the United States, local laws and federal immigration policy combine to produce a situation where massage parlor workers, who are predominately female, are left unprotected, which can result in exploitation through a trifecta of wage theft, deportation threat, and sexual harassment. Failing to recognize the differences in the types of massage parlors and masseuses, the current broad-brush legislative approach to regulation is inadequate and does not properly address worker conditions. New legislation is needed to provide legal protection to masseuses.

Incorporating harm-reduction provisions in legislation to improve the well-being of sex workers

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

New Canadian legislation aims to criminalize the buying of sex, in order to reduce and eventually end prostitution, but evidence shows that spillover effects would create additional risks for sex workers. Changing the legislation to legalize and regulate sex services would be best for sex workers. Since that may not be possible immediately, instituting harm-reduction provisions would help women who are adversely affected by the current bill.

Revising California Policies on Human Trafficking Will Help Protect Victims

Wed, 4 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Revising California Policies on Human Trafficking Will Help Protect Victims

Universal Access to Contraceptives Under Covered California Will Improve Women's Reproductive Health

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Universal Access to Contraceptives Under Covered California Will Improve Women's Reproductive Health

Including Preventive Dental Services in Maternal and Newborn Care Will Improve Health Outcomes

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Including Preventive Dental Services in Maternal and Newborn Care Will Improve Health Outcomes

Improving Maternal Depression Screening and Treatment for Pregnant Women

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Improving Maternal Depression Screening and Treatment for Pregnant Women

Enhancing Access to Prenatal Care within the California Health Exchange

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Enhancing Access to Prenatal Care within the California Health Exchange

Preventing Discrimination in Services for LGBT Homeless Youth

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Revising the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to include protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in shelters and foster care is an essential step towards the creation of safe havens.

Ensuring Compliance and Accountability Will Make Schools Safer for LGBT Youth

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Nearly one-third of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth report a past suicide attempt. Such a large percentage can be attributed in part to school environments where they may fear physical and verbal abuse from fellow students, teachers, and administrators and may grapple with feelings of marginalization.

Ensuring the Safety of LGBT Students at School

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Generally defined as intentional, repeated aggressive behavior meant to cause physical, emotional, or mental harm, bullying and harassment are serious problems faced by all children in school. Bullying and harassment can have lifelong negative effects—physical, emotional, and psychological—not only for the person being bullied but also for the bullies and the bystanders.

Facilitating family acceptance through intervention programs to avert displacement

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Increasing the knowledge base of experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)homeless youth through aggressive research will enhance understanding of factors leadingto LGBT youth homelessness and support service providers in delivering sound and culturally competent practice.

Providing Inclusive Sex Education in Schools Will Address the Health Needs of LGBT Youth

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Implementation of programs that incorporate and address the health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth will help reduce risky behaviors and negative health effects and create safer, more supportive, and more inclusive environments in the nation’s schools.

Reducing Food Insecurity Among Female Farmworkers and Thier Children

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This policy brief examines the implications of food insecurity among female seasonal farmworkers and their children. Food insecurity disproportionally affects seasonal farmworkers and documentation status prevents many from applying for food assistance programs. This brief recommends faster paths to documentation for farmworkers and their children.

Improving Health Outcomes For Populations Affected by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Food Insecurity

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This policy brief looks at the intersection of food insecurity and Intimate Partner Violence among women and the correlated health outcomes of both. The brief argues that more study needs to be done in order to understand the relationship between increased rates of food insecurity among women who are or were victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

Reinstate PROJECT GROW! Targeting Food Insecurity Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This policy brief recommends the revival of Project Grow!, a collaborative project that targeted food insecurity amongst survivors of domestic violence, community food insecurity, and food insecurity at shelters. The brief gives data on the relationship between IPV and food insecurity as well as a critique of current public policy regarding these matters.

Helping Local Stores With WIC Certification Will Yield Better Food Options for All

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This policy brief discusses the implications of the 2009 changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to certified vendors. The changes reflect the newer U.S. dietary guidelines and include a higher variety of fresh foods. This brief examines how this will effects small, local vendors and gives recommendations for maintaining the vendor certifications and food availiablity in an economically unstable environment.

Helping Local Stores with WIC Certification Will Yield Better Food Options for All

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Providing vendors with help in maintaining or attaining WIC certification would improve food offerings for customers and help local economies in a time of economic recession.

U.S. Farm Bill Makes Women and Children Food Insecure

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In order to eliminate developing nations’ dependence on international aid,sustainability of food production must be fostered. Sustainability can be fosteredthrough elimination of trade barriers, development of infrastructure, andempowerment of women. Improving the self-sufficiency of developing nationscan help to ensure the food security of their women and children.

Reductions in SNAP Increase Health Risks for Food Insecure Women

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

This policy brief examines the effects of the recent (2010) reductions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to health outcomes for food insecure women.

Policy Brief: U.S. Farm Bill Makes Women and Children Food Insecure

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

This policy brief examines the international implications of the U.S Farm Bill and is effects on food security in developing nations. It argues that the combination of the policies in the Farm Bill and the practice of in-kind food donations from the U.S. decrease food security in developing nations, especially for women and children. The brief makes various policy recommendations including the reduction of commodity subsidies and the expansion of regional food aid purchases.