It’s critical that we build relationships

with candidates throughout their campaigns

to ensure that any person running for office

knows that youth justice

is a priority in your community.

They need to hear from you and other voices

in the community who care about youth justice

from now through Election Day and beyond.

We’ve updated our Electoral Toolkit for 2019 to provide you with updated resources, including social media graphics, to mobilize your community to engage local candidates in an effort to end youth incarceration and direct resources to community alternatives. Those seeking political power in local and state elected positions must understand the issues facing youth involved in the juvenile justice system, talk about their positions publicly, and stand ready to

work with young people and families if elected.

Your participation helps educate candidates about youth incarceration and what is at stake, so that we can create local systems that promote safer communities and a more just system for our children. Candidates also need to know that we are an engaged community that will hold them accountable through our vote and our activism, even once they’re in office, through activities such as

voter registration drives, community events, and forums.

Please join our movement by downloading our toolkit to learn what you can do in your community and share this with all your friends and colleagues in your own network. You can also share this toolkit on your social media pages using the graphics here.

We look forward to joining together with you in this fight.

Thank you,

The Youth First Team

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YOUR TOOLKIT

TAKE ACTION : LOOK AT THIS PDF

You can take action now to educate your lawmakers on why incarcerating youth doesn’t work! Follow these steps:

1. Share these recommendations with federal policymakers and candidates for office.
2. Find your Legislators’ contact information: Visit this page and either navigate to your state or fill in your address to find contact information.
3. Invite your Legislators to meet with youth & community members, visit an alternative to incarceration program in your community, and/or visit a youth prison to see where youth from your community are sent.
4. Present your lawmakers with this statement from Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice so that they can see the growing consensus across the country to end youth incarceration and invest in youth in their communities.
5. Share these Legislative Options with your Legislators here:

NKIP-Shifting-Resources-Backgrounder-Document-2P

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Looking to make a difference? Take action now by joining a campaign in your community! Don’t see a campaign in your state? Consider starting your own campaign.

CONNECTICUT

In 2015, Governor Malloy announced plans to close to close the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS). The Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance (CTJJA) is spearheading advocacy efforts to ensure that the state replaces CJTS with a comprehensive continuum of mostly community-based programs for youth and their families.

ctjja.org

KANSAS

Progeny protects youths’ voice and advocates for Kansas youth touched by the juvenile justice system. Progeny strives to progress, develop and build the future expectations of the youth in our community. Progeny successfully advocated for the restoration of funding for alternatives to incarceration for youth.

facebook.com/progenyICT/

MAINE

Maine Youth Justice is a nonpartisan campaign to end youth incarceration in Maine and invest in a range of community-based alternatives that respond to young people’s needs, support families, and build community in support of community alternatives to youth incarceration.

maineyouthjustice.org

NEW JERSEY

150 Years is Enough seeks to transform New Jersey’s youth incarceration system into a community-based system of care by closing two of New Jersey’s three youth prisons, the New Jersey Training School for Boys (“Jamesburg”) and the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility (“Hayes.”)

njisj.org/150_years_is_enough

VIRGINIA

RISE (Re-invest in Supportive Environments) for Youth is a nonpartisan campaign of youth, families, and community organizations that successfully advocated for re-investment of funding from the closure of youth prisons in Virginia into community-based programs and placements for youth. The campaign is urging the state to continue to expand effective community treatment rather than build new prisons.

riseforyouth.org