On December 27, 2017, a special meeting was held with a majority of members of Statewide Inmate Family Council and a unanimous vote was made to remove Dale Richter for cause, as Chair and member, from the SIFC. At the same time, it was voted that terming out members would be extended 120 days, and an interim chair was voted in.

Some of the reasons for his removal were continual lack of transparency, lack of communication, failure to be inclusive, and failure to bring forth applications for new membership. As well, Dale has continuously made unilateral decisions for the SIFC without input or vote from members of the council and uses his position as Chair for personal gain. (See http://www.fclca.org/about-us/board-a-staff.html)

Although a majority was present for the vote and the vote passed unanimously, the CDCR has made their own interpretations of the SIFC by-laws and refused to recognize the action taken by the majority of the SIFC. Further, as a result of voting for Dale’s removal, all members who participated in the vote were subsequently removed from the SIFC without notice or cause. Unfortunately, this is not the first-time Dale has removed SIFC members without notice when their views conflict with his agenda.

We, the undersigned, ask that Scott Kernan and the CDCR take the following actions:

1. Recognize the actions taken by a majority vote of the SIFC members and the removal of Dale Richter Chair of the SIFC;

2. Agree to not interfere with the internal matters of the SIFC, such as by-law interpretation or motions up for a vote before the SIFC council members;

3. Agree that all seven (7) SIFC members removed by Dale Richter, as a result of the vote, will be reinstated as active members of the SIFC; and

3. Any and all other action that Scott Kernan and CDCR deem just and proper under the circumstances.