New Bill Would Overhaul Entire CYA, Starting by Closing CHAD!

:::: HUGE STEP FOR OUR CAMPAIGN ::::
:::: New Bill Would Overhaul Entire CYA, Starting by Closing CHAD! ::::

Dear Friend,

We have tremendous news! On Monday, State Senator Gloria Romero -- the Senate
Majority Leader -- announced that she will introduce a bill to end the warehousing
of youth and "Blow Up the CYA Box"! This comes 5 days after we screened Books Not
Bars' film "SYSTEM FAILURE" for the legislature in the State Capitol Building (see
below).

:::: WHAT THE BILL WOULD DO ::::

First and foremost, it calls for the immediate closure of Chad, perhaps CYA's most
violent and abusive youth prison. It also calls for taking all the girls and young
women out of the Ventura facility in Southern California -- CYA's only female
facility -- and placing them in county programs.

The bill then calls for redesigning and/or rebuilding the rest of CYA's youth
prisons within three years. They would be replaced by a system that prioritizes
rehabilitation and return to family and community -- a system similar to the model
system that Missouri has developed. Instead of huge, warehouse prisons, the bill
would set up small-scale, effective rehabilitation programs close to youth’s homes.

:::: WHAT THE BILL MEANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN ::::

We are tremendously excited that Senator Romero introduced this sweeping
legislation. It is a validation of all of our work.

For the past year, Books Not Bars has been leading a grassroots campaign to close
CYA's abusive and wasteful prisons and replace them with programs that work.

Since the beginning, Books Not Bars has pointed to proven solutions like Missouri's
model juvenile justice system. And we have long championed community-based
alternatives as a key to keeping our youth out of prison and improving community
safety. In recent months, Books Not Bars has been calling for the immediate closure
of Chad.

Now, the ideas we have been championing are in a bill, introduced by the Senate
Majority Leader! We are especially proud of Senator Romero for calling for the
closure of Chad -- a bold step requiring courage and leadership.

Senator Romero's bill will surely face tough opposition this year as it moves
through the Senate and Assembly to the Governor's desk. To pass, it will need broad
support throughout the state, both inside and outside of Sacramento.

We call on everyone to show support for Senator Romero and make sure policymakers
throughout the state know that we want rehabilitation and community programs instead
of CYA’s youth prisons.

Starting right now, we can turn California's juvenile justice system from a national
disgrace to a national model. 2004 was the year of scandal for CYA. Let us make 2005
the year of solutions.

:::: LAST WEEK: SPECIAL FILM SCREENING AT THE CAPITOL A HUGE SUCCESS! ::::

January 19 marked one year since teenage boys Durrell Feaster and Deon Whitfield
were found hanged in CYA. We honored Durrell and Deon by hosting a special screening
of our powerful new 30-minute documentary about CYA for legislators and their staff
at the State Capitol.

The film, SYSTEM FAILURE: Violence, Abuse, & Neglect in the California Youth
Authority, is extremely moving. More than 80 people filled the room -- legislators,
legislative staff, advocates, reporters and community members. The event was
tremendously emotional and powerful for everyone.

We were honored to bring Durrell's and Deon's stories, as well as the stories of so
many other CYA youth and families, to California's policymakers. The event was a
huge success and a high point of the campaign so far.

Prior to the screening, we held a vigil on the steps of the Capitol Building to pay
tribute to Durrell and Deon. And earlier in the day, Books Not Bars attended and
spoke at a press conference with Senator Romero. At the press conference, Senator
Romero emphasized her commitment to get youth out of abusive and wasteful prisons,
noting "the game is over with CYA. It's a complete failure."

Sincerely,
Lenore Anderson
Books Not Bars Director

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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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