On July 31, recently released young people, Books Not Bars family members, community leaders and other activists convened in Stockton to celebrate the official closure of two notorious youth prisons—DeWitt and Paso Robles—and to call for the remaining facilities to be replaced with humane, effective rehabilitation centers.
Fifty of us gathered in front of the Northern California Youth Correctional Center. The vigil began with a song, and included testimonies from young people about their experiences in the youth prisons. Senator Leland Yee spoke as well, encouraging our members and supporters to continue fighting for the justice system California’s youth deserve. Reporters from the Stockton Record and the San Jose Mercury News covered the event.
There are fewer than 2,000 young people locked up in youth prisons today, compared to 10,000 a decade ago. We're excited that California's youth prison system is shrinking, and that prisons which for years have failed to rehabilitate our youth are closing. But, as our director Zachary Norris told the vigil attendees, we're not going to stop until all the youth prisons are shut down.
In memory of one of the most courageous and persistent stewards of peace and understandings. We dedicate a moment to remember the greatness of Mother Teresa
