In This Issue

Books Not Bars
Legislator of the Year
This Week In Radio
Honoring 51 SHeroes

Books Not Bars
One Bright Hope for California

::: "Family Connection" Bill Helps Families on the Outside Support Young People on the Inside :::

For a young person in the Division of Juvenile Justice (formerly the California Youth Authority), it's not easy to call home. Or mail home. Or see your parents. The DJJ has truly abusive practices around visitation — even though family involvement is proven to make rehabilitation more effective.

That could all change soon. Thanks to Assemblyman Curren Price, Books Not Bars is introducing our first piece of legislation, which we call the "Family Connection" bill (AB 1300). It would revolutionize family involvement in this terrible system, making "promotion of family ties" part of the DJJ's core mission.

It's no secret that kids who stay connected to their families when they are inside are far more successful when they get back outside. Assemblyman Price's bill will greatly increase that crucial family connection by:

• requiring that youth be kept near their families when possible

• establishing a toll-free "Visiting Hotline" for family members to call, and

• allowing families to buy low-cost phone plans for the first time.
 
(Currently, young people can only call home collect, at exorbitant rates.)

[Reprint: Jakada Imani - Campaign Director - Books Not Bars]