California's youth prison system is broken. It has systematically
failed to rehabilitate or educate the 2,600 youth in its charge. In February, California's Inspector General reported that
shocking conditions and
neglect of youth persist despite court-ordered improvements and years-old recommendations.
California youth prisons:
- have been the subject of scandal for decades, with astronomical rates of violence and suicide;
- fail to rehabilitate: 74% of young people reoffend; [1]
- cost taxpayers more than $216,000 per youth per year; and
- wasted $100 million in failed reform efforts last year.
It's time for California to shut down an antiquated system whose costs in lives and dollars can no longer be tolerated!
A new bill in the Assembly, AB 1655, will provide the first crucial step in dismantling a broken system and replacing it with smaller, community based facilities that will rehabilitate our youth, increase public safety, and save taxpayers and the state millions of dollars.
Join the fight: Help increase public safety and reduce crime in your community. Sign the petition today and demand that young people get the resources they need to turn their lives around, and not just survive but succeed in their lives!
[1] In contrast, the therapeutic, regionalized services provided in Missouri have produced a 15.7% recidivism rate, while costing the state only $26,811 per youth. This success has been duplicated in many other states that follow a similar model.
Dear Governor & Legislators,
[Your comment here]
The Division of Juvenile Justice has failed our youth, failed our state, and failed the public. It is time to close this institution and transition to a model that has proven to be far more effective in helping young people turn their lives around. Experts agree that local and regional, therapeutic centers for young people work far better for less money than warehouse prisons in rehabilitating youth.
With its population at an all time low and its cost at an all time high, now is the time to close the failing DJJ.
We must support the rehabilitation of young people. Assembly Bill 1655 promises a safer public and help for young people to get out and stay out of the justice system.
Please support AB 1655. You will not only vote for the end of a long-time crippled system, but also for public safety, by healing [or restoring] youth in trouble.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
