Advocacy Day 2006

The Juvenile Justice Coalition's Advocacy Day, held on February 28, was a huge success. Over 100 young people, parents and advocates traveled to Albany to meet with 45 state legislators.

One of the most powerful aspects of the day was the way young people educated our state leaders about how current juvenile justice policies have affected their lives and the lives of their communities.

JJC members urged state legislators to enact the following juvenile justice reforms:

• Shift money from youth detention to community-based alternatives to jail.

• Enact the Safe and Fair, Equal Treatment for Youth (SAFETY) Act to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth from harassment and abuse (Bill A.6502).

• Create an Independent Child Advocate's Office to safeguard the rights of youth confined in state institutions (Bill A.6334).

• Enact the Safe Harbor Act to end the prosecution of sexually exploited youth (Bill A.6597).

Read the press release about Advocacy Day

Read the Juvenile Justice Coalition's proposals for reform