Youth deserve care and support, not surveillance and confinement. Our responses to young people should emphasize positive youth development approaches over punitive measures and incarceration.

In 2018 and 2019, California made important investments in community-based services and programs that emphasize safe, culturally-rooted, strength-based support for children and youth as alternatives to arrest and system involvement. Unfortunately funding for this program – which demonstrated incredible success for youth outcomes, public health, and safety – ended last year. 

Assembly Bill 912 (Jones-Sawyer) would reinvest cost savings from prison closures into initiatives – like the Youth Reinvestment Grant Program – that reduce community violence, increase youth diversion opportunities, and deliver critical community supports, including mental health, education, and vocational services.

By passing Assembly Bill 912 (Jones-Sawyer) California policymakers can ensure more children and youth, especially Black, Latine, or Native American, receive support instead of punishment. Care instead of cages.

Now is the time for California lawmakers to reinvest $50 million in the 2023-24 state budget to the Youth Reinvestment Grant program.