Books Not Bars

CLOSE PRISONS. OPEN OPPORTUNITies.

Books Not Bars organizes the largest network of families of incarcerated youth and champion alternatives to California’s costly, broken prison system.

Currently we are focused on:

Closing the Division of Juvenile Justice and placing youth in community-based programs.
Ending the misuse of Solitary Confinement in California's youth prisons and county jails.
Addressing the overcrowding of California's adult prisons through sentencing reform.
Building the leadership of our families to become advocates for themselves and for necessary reforms to the prison system.

Learn More.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

The horror.

Sumayyah recaps this week's historic Federal hearing on solitary confinement.

Statement: State Senate Votes Against Lowering Penalty For Drug Possession

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is disappointed with the State Senate’s failure to pass common-sense drug reform on May 31, 2012.

New Poll Confirms 70% Support for Revising CA’S Drug Laws, Across Party and Geographic Lines

Voters overwhelmingly believe that California’s prisons and jails are overcrowded and want more alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, according to new poll released today. Support for the shift is truly bipartisan and consistent across the state, explained researcher Ben Tulchin of Tulchin Research.

Drugs can be Hell. Being Labelled a 'Felon' is a Killer.

A first person account of why it's time to end the failed drug war in California.

Division of Juvenile Justice to Remain Open, Costing State Over $100 million in Potential Savings

Despite ongoing failures and shocking abuse, the Governor once again backed down on his budget proposal to close California’s state youth prisons.

California Budget: Why Do We Cut Schools to Build Jails?

What the May budget revise indicates about California's out-of-whack priorities.

Solitary Confinement Bill Fails to Move Out of Committee

It’s a sad day when basic human rights take a back seat to the powerful influence the prison guard union has over our elected leaders.

A solitary confinement solution

This Los Angeles Times editorial shows strong support for our bill (SB 1363) that would limit the use of solitary confinement in California's youth prisons.