CYA Lawsuit Leads to Plans for Sweeping Change

:::: ANOTHER HUGE STEP FOR OUR CAMPAIGN ::::
:::: CYA LAWSUIT LEADS TO PLANS FOR SWEEPING CHANGE ::::

Dear Friend,

I have more amazing news! Yesterday, the California Youth Authority (CYA) agreed
with what youth, families, and advocates have been saying for decades: the CYA is
completely broken and can't be fixed -- a new model of juvenile justice is needed.
The CYA has committed in writing to totally transform California’s juvenile justice
system.

:::: WHAT HAPPENED? ::::

As you may know, the Prison Law Office sued the state of California in 2003 because
of the horrific conditions inside CYA. A few months ago, with the Governor’s
approval, the CYA admitted to its wrongdoings and settled the lawsuit. The lawsuit
settlement required CYA to develop plans to clean up CYA by January 31, 2005.

Then, top government officials went on tour. To see first-hand what effective
programs look like, people from the Governor’s office, YACA (the Youth & Adult
Correctional Agency, which oversees CYA), and CYA visited juvenile justice programs
in Missouri, Texas, and elsewhere around the country. Later, after negotiations
with the Prison Law Office, CYA agreed that, instead of merely "cleaning up", CYA
needs to go back to the drawing board.

Yesterday, in court, CYA and the Prison Law Office agreed to design a whole new
model -- based on rehabilitation -- by May 2, 2005. A signed 4-page document lists
specific deadlines and clear guiding principles for what the new model of juvenile
justice must include. And by November 30, 2005, CYA must have a full, detailed plan
for exactly how to put the new model into action.

In this plan, among other things, the CYA must:

* Include families in treatment and rehabilitation.
* Keep youth in facilities close to their homes.
* Provide youth with a supportive and positive environment that truly helps them get
their lives back on track.
* Staff the programs with trained rehabilitation specialists.

Yesterday was truly a turning point for juvenile justice in California.

:::: A PROUD MOMENT FOR ALL OF US ::::

For the past year, Books Not Bars has condemned the CYA's abusive and wasteful
prisons and trumpeted models of success in states like Missouri. We do our work
through advocacy, education, organizing, mobilizing, and the media, and it is
exciting to see that work make a difference.

In addition, dozens of community and advocacy groups are working very hard to make
sure the scandals of 2004 will lead to a whole new juvenile justice system: Beat
Within/Pacific News Service, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, Center for
Young Women’s Development, Civil Rights for Children, Community Justice Network for
Youth, Families for Hope, Justice Policy Institute, Mentoring Center, National
Council on Crime and Delinquency, Youth Detention Ministries, Youth Justice
Coalition, Youth Law Center, and many, many more. We are especially proud of the
Prison Law Office’s groundbreaking work, which has created so much possibility.

Together, we have cultivated a groundswell of unity that now includes the Governor,
top YACA and CYA officials, juvenile justice advocates and experts, Senators,
Assembly Members, and families and youth throughout California. Now, no one can
disagree: the California Youth Authority is a failure and must be totally re-made.

:::: THE CAMPAIGN IS FAR FROM OVER ::::

Bound by a written and signed document with real deadlines, the CYA is now committed
to sweeping change. These changes are far deeper than anyone could have expected
when the Prison Law Office first filed suit in 2003.

But there’s so much more to do! We need to make sure that CYA's new model closes the
existing youth prisons. California's new juvenile justice system must dramatically
bolster community-based programs, reduce the overrepresentation of youth of color,
and contain strong community oversight mechanisms.

And we need to make sure sentencing reform accompanies these changes to the juvenile
justice system. We must prevent California from simply transferring youth into the
even harsher adult system.

We’re energized, excited, and mobilized to keep up the campaign. Together with our
allies, Books Not Bars will push ahead until California finally has a juvenile
justice system that makes sense and makes us proud.

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