Books Not Bars

A California lawmaker wants to shutdown California's troubled juvenile detention facilities, instead sending young offenders back to their home counties for education and treatment. Assem. Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, introduced legislation this week that would essentially close California's Division of Juvenile Justice.

(BCN) Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-San Jose, has recently introduced a bill that aims to eliminate the California Division of Juvenile Justice entirely.

Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, announced Wednesday she has proposed legislation that would dismantle the Department of Juvenile Justice -- closing all youth prisons in the state -- and turn over responsibility for juvenile offenders to local counties.

San Jose Assemblywoman Sally Lieber is introducing a bill that would change the structure of the youth prison system. She is proposing to take juvenile offenders from state facilities and put them into smaller, community-based facilities run by counties.

Three employees at a youth prison in Stockton are fighting suspensions imposed after the suicide last year of an 18-year-old ward who was isolated in his room for two months, the corrections department said in responding to a public records request from The Associated Press.

Arnold Schwarzenegger calls himself the "Action Governor" when it comes to reforming juvenile justice. So what has he done since taking office? Next to nothing.

A look at conditions in California's "CHAD" youth prison - and Books Not Bars campaign to make things better.

For too long, the incarceration industry has gotten away with high costs and low performance. It is time to introduce accountability, competition and rational incentives into the nation’s prison systems—both public and private.