Arnold's Awful Announcement:
New "Reform" Plan Keeps Youth Prisons Open
http://www.booksnotbars.org Dear Friends,
Last week, we learned that the Governor and his corrections officials still refuse to do what's right. Instead of closing the abusive and costly youth prisons and replacing them with regional rehabilitation centers and community programs, they want to keep the prisons run by prison guards open. And worse still — they want to build another!
On November 30, Governor Schwarzenegger's corrections officials had to reveal a juvenile justice reform plan. They submitted a weak, deeply disappointing plan that goes in the opposite direction of a real rehabilitation system. The plan is a slap in the face to youth and families who have fought so hard to get the youth prisons closed and replaced with what works.
The plan lays out lofty principles for creating "kinder, gentler" warehouse prisons. Not only does it keep the same remote prisons in tact and it also calls for creating a new 250-bed youth prison in Stockton, right next door to the notorious Chad youth prison!
Everyone, including the Governor and CYA Chief Bernie Warner, knows what youth in CYA need. Youth need to be close to home, in small rehabilitation centers with 40 beds or less, staffed by youth specialists, not prison guards.
But the Governor and Chief Warner chickened out and broke their promise to transform the system. Instead of rescuing youth from the sinking ship that is CYA, they want to slap on a new coat of paint and build an extra deck. We won't stand for this!
snip
Today (Monday 12/5), Senator Gloria Romero will hold a hearing to demand answers from corrections officials. Books Not Bars will descend on the hearing with signs and song to let these officials know we will fight for closing the youth prisons every step of the way! We will not allow the voices of parents and youth to go unheard.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
