Our First Newsletter

This blog post was originally our first newsletter. For updates from the campaign, subscribe to our F5C newsletter here.

Friend, 

You're receiving this email because you asked to receive updates regarding the Illinois Youth Prisons & Detention Center COVID Response. We are pleased to let you know that you are in the company of more than 1000 other individuals and organizations who signed one or both letters concerning the detention and incarceration of youth. 
 

Thank you for signing, sharing the letters, and opting to stay connected.
 

Since publishing the letters —

• The Illinois state youth prison population has fallen by about half and is now close to 100 young people 

• We've seen growing media coverage of youth incarceration

• We received formal responses concerning county detention from Chief Justice Burke and Chief Judge Evans. Currently, there are about 20 fewer youth in Cook County’s Juvenile Temporary Detention Center than in early March 

While coronavirus accelerated these efforts and the public’s response, we know the reduction in young people held in state youth prisons has been a long time in the making and the work is not done. That is why we are excited to share some big news.

We will soon be launching The Final 5 Campaign, dedicated to the closure of the 5 remaining youth prisons in Illinois.

This campaign is brought to you by a coalition of formerly incarcerated youth, young people impacted by the juvenile justice system, family and community members, advocates, restorative justice practitioners, and allies who believe we are finally at the finish line of this particular effort. To  prepare for our late-summer launch, we are developing momentum through youth leader internships in campaign curriculum development, new media, storytelling, and organizing. But moving into this next phase, we need a strong show of solidarity. 

Will you help get more people on our team?
 

Here’s how you can support The Final 5 Campaign: 

• Share this link with family and friends to get more people signed up for updates.

• Get involved! If you're a young person, or you know a young person, who has been impacted by the injustice system or is passionate about this work, please email us!

• Get in touch if you'd like to run a workshop for youth leaders in curriculum development, new media, storytelling, or organizing.

Thank you for joining our campaign. We are at the finish line and we need you with us to close The Final 5. 

In solidarity,

The Final 5 Campaign