CRITICAL MOMENT FOR CAMPAIGN: Sign Our Online Petition!

“The only thing they’re preparing my son for is prison. I’m going to have to
rehabilitate him from CYA after he gets out!”
-- Books Not Bars member and parent of a CYA incarcerated youth

Dear Friend,

WE NEED YOUR HELP TODAY!

PLEASE TAKE 60 SECONDS TO SIGN OUR NEW ONLINE PETITION to Governor Schwarzenegger
urging him to close the youth prisons of the California Youth Authority (CYA).

http://BooksNotBars.org/petition

As you know, Books Not Bars has been campaigning for the past year and a half to
close CYA’s eight abusive and costly youth prisons. Our efforts have made an impact
and momentum continues to build across the state (http://www.booksnotbars.org).

But we’re not there yet! Now is a critical moment for you to take action and make
it possible to close the youth prisons!

http://BooksNotBars.org/petition

On May 16, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger released a new proposal to overhaul the
California Youth Authority. The proposal sets out a laudable goal — to turn the
largest and most abusive youth prison system in the nation into a model of
rehabilitation, training, education, and positive reinforcement programming. These
are essential elements of a successful model.

The BIG problem is: the proposal does not call for doing the only thing that will
truly transform California’s juvenile justice system from a national disgrace to a
national model — closing the youth prisons. When prisons are run by prison guards,
youth cannot be safe or rehabilitated. These decrepit and remote warehouses are
designed to foster fear, isolation and violence. It’s simply not possible to dress
them up differently.

Books Not Bars has already taken action on this, but it’s not enough. We need your
help! On May 16, the day the proposal came out, dozens of Books Not Bars members
visited the Governor's office. In front of six TV cameras and 20 media outlets, we
delivered thousands of signed postcards urging the Governor to close the youth
prisons and replace them with real rehabilitation and community programs.

Now, the Governor needs to hear from you! Governor Schwarzenegger needs to know that
the people of California want genuine change. Help us to win this campaign -- add
your name to the public groundswell of support for real transformation. Join the
thousands of people in California taking a stand for youth!

http://BooksNotBars.org/petition

Thank you,
Lenore Anderson,
Books Not Bars

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Get more information about the Books Not Bars "Alternatives for Youth" Campaign:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaign

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We can't survive without the support of individuals like you. Please take a moment
to support us today. Donate here: http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate

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