CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–July 31, 2013–Youth activists and allies from the Audy Home Campaign will hold a rally and press conference on Wednesday before the Cook County Board Meeting to remember friends lost to violence this summer and demand that Cook County invest in alternatives to juvenile detention. Dressed as prisoners: youth and parents impacted by juvenile incarceration will tell stories of lost loved ones and the county policies of juvenile detention, which they say are failing.
“Cook County Board members are failing our youth, incarcerating youth isn’t working, and it is wasting money,” said youth activist and former detainee of the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center Auntraney Carter. “We are outraged that that as our friends die the county’s only response is to increase spending on juvenile detention.”
Over Youth activist point out that the current County budget calls for increasing spending on the juvenile detention center by 13 million dollars next year. Youth are demanding that at least $1M of these dollars get reinvested in restorative justice programs in the neighborhoods where youth get locked up. They say these alternative restorative justice programs will provide youth with conflict resolution peace circles, job training and mentorship, and mental health services which addresses the root causes of violence in their community.
The Audy Home Campaign aims develops the leadership of youth directly impacted by juvenile incarceration to improve conditions in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and to ultimately shut the center down and replace it with alternative, community-based restorative justice programs.
Where: 118 N. Clark St., 5th Floor
When: Wednesday, July 31, 10:30am
