After years of community opposition, organizing and advocacy the state has decided to not move forward with the construction of the proposed Baltimore City jail that would have housed youth charged as adults. This is a huge victory for the youth advocacy community and a much needed step as advocates focus on changing policies and practices that impact how youth are treated in the criminal justice system. Come celebrate what made this victory possible, the community along with the work of the youth led alliance to create grassroots support, form a legislative strategy, and launch a media campaign against the proposed jail

What: A community party to celebrate the victory of stopping the youth jail and planning next steps.

When: 5pm Thursday February 7^th

Where: Sojourner Douglas College 200 N Central Ave, Baltimore, MD 21202

 The event is free and open to the public.

Free Food and Entertainment

There was an amendment to the capital budget to delay the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services from spending any money for the redesign of the Youth Detention Center until the DPSCS submits a report to the budget committees on if the Women’s pre-release unit could be used as an alternative facility.  The report is due July 30, 2012

Here is a link to the language  http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/budget_docs/all/Capital/Committee_Reports/House_Report.pdf pg.85

Thank You!

Click link for list of legislators: Money Committees

Thanks to you, our hash tags, “#lovenotjails” and “#schoolsnotjails” were the top 2 trending topics in Baltimore, MD yesterday. Governor O’Malley also trended because you mentioned him in your posts. The message got out and the action was a huge success. This couldn’t have happened without you!

The Stop the Jail Alliance is raising awareness This Valentine’s Day about the injustices that Baltimore youth face in The Adult System. We need your help to tell the state that they should not build a new $70 million jail to house them.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

At 2:00pm 02/14/12 The Alliance will be doing a HUGE TWITTER BLAST TO RAISE AWARENESS

Tweet one or ALL of these statuses to help us raise awareness. The more you tweet the higher the chances are that it trends and really gets the word out.

Just copy a status below and paste in your twitter feed 

1. Baltimore youth are my valentines. Stop the youth jail  #lovenotjails #schoolsnotjails  PLEASE RETWEET TO RAISE AWARENESS

2. RT Baltimore youth are my valentines. Stop the youth jail  #lovenotjails #schoolsnotjail

3. PLEASE RETWEET Baltimore youth are my valentines. Stop the youth jail  #lovenotjails #schoolsnotjails

YOU CAN ALSO HELP ON FACEBOOK

Click The Picture Below and share this Graphic as your Status

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

http://stopbaltimoreyouthjail.com/

Who: You

What: Full Committee Briefing – Youth Detention Facility in Baltimore

When: January 24, 2012 10:30am

Where: Community Law In Action 520 West Fayette Street 140 Baltimore MD, 21201

Everyone Participating must meet at CLIA’s OFFICE

RSVP:     Rashad@cliayouth.org or call 410-706-3940

On November 20th at 10 pm EST, MSNBC will premiere “Young Kids, Hard Time,” a one-hour documentary that throws back the veil on the reality of young kids serving long sentences in adult prisons.

“Young Kids, Hard Time” reveals what life is like for young kids staring down decades behind bars. Calamari Productions was granted sweeping access inside the maxiumum security Wabash Valley Correctinal Facility in Carlisle, Indiana – the only adult prison in the state of Indiana that houses kids sentenced as adults. The film delves into the everyday struggles encountered by these 53 kids on the Youth Incarcerated As Adults cellblock (YIA).

Click here to watch a five-minute clip of Act One of the documentary