Help At-Risk Youth in California and Close Preston Prison

Help At-Risk Youth in California and Close Preston Prison

The Issue

Preston Youth Correctional Facility is California’s oldest youth prison. Preston is located an hour northeast of Stockton and houses just 224 young people. As one of the state's oldest correctional facilities it is in abysmal condition and is extremely expensive to operate.

Its location makes true rehabilitation efforts very challenging -- most of the youths serving time there are hours away from their families. Keeping them from the support systems they need makes the hard work of turning their lives around much more difficult.

Finally, this past October, prison officials announced that they would be closing Preston, saving the state $30 million a year -- but this long-overdue decision is now in jeopardy.  Some people are opposing the closure because of the economic impact -- and they seem to think prison jobs are more important than what's best for youth. 

We must close this ineffective and expensive facility -- and put youth first. Tell the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to stick with the plan to close Preston.

avatar of the starter
Ella Baker Center for Human RightsPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
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This petition had 1,326 supporters

The Issue

Preston Youth Correctional Facility is California’s oldest youth prison. Preston is located an hour northeast of Stockton and houses just 224 young people. As one of the state's oldest correctional facilities it is in abysmal condition and is extremely expensive to operate.

Its location makes true rehabilitation efforts very challenging -- most of the youths serving time there are hours away from their families. Keeping them from the support systems they need makes the hard work of turning their lives around much more difficult.

Finally, this past October, prison officials announced that they would be closing Preston, saving the state $30 million a year -- but this long-overdue decision is now in jeopardy.  Some people are opposing the closure because of the economic impact -- and they seem to think prison jobs are more important than what's best for youth. 

We must close this ineffective and expensive facility -- and put youth first. Tell the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to stick with the plan to close Preston.

avatar of the starter
Ella Baker Center for Human RightsPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Matthew Cate
Matthew Cate
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

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Petition created on December 20, 2010