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Board Eliminates Use of Pepper Spray

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to eliminate the use of chemical spray in all county juvenile probation facilities by December 2019.

For the past two years, CDF-CA has been working with advocates across the state to implement both statewide and local prohibitions against the traumatic, harmful and inhumane use of chemical spray against our incarcerated young people. The February vote brings LA County in line with 35 other states and four other California counties who already ban chemical spray in their facilities. The harmful nature of chemical spray makes its use barbaric and counterproductive to the rehabilitative goals of the juvenile justice system.

Details on the degrading use of chemical spray in LA County (including the spraying of a youth engaged in self-harming behavior) can be found in a recent investigative report by the Los Angeles County Office of Inspector General. CDF-CA lauds the bold actions of the LA County Board of Supervisors and looks forward to working with the Los Angeles Probation Department and other stakeholders to implement the mandated ban in a way that protects the safety of both youth and staff.

More Featured Updates

ConnectWithRespect Youth Action

Long Beach student leaders and YO!LB members took selfies with their favorite teachers and school staff last week to highlight the role that positive and respectful relationships play in building supportive schools.

Oct 14, 2015|Categories: Featured Update|

New Report Highlights Need to Address Child Trauma

Policy forum uplifts innovative community programs and policies that are helping children and youth heal Richmond, CA – Children's Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) released a report emphasizing the need for community-based services to address and heal trauma experienced by children and youth. The report, Helping Children Heal: Promising Community Programs and Policy Recommendations, highlights exemplary programs in Oakland and Richmond that are healing children and youth and building resilience through trauma-informed mental health treatment paired with exposure to the arts. "We cannot afford to ignore the devastating impact that trauma and chronic exposure to violence have on our children and youth. New neuroscience research shows what those in our communities have long known: exposure to traumatic events in childhood harms children's developing brains so profoundly that the effects show up decades later in the form of poor health and mental health and the perpetuation [...]

Sep 21, 2015|Categories: Media Release|Tags: |

Twitter chat puts the spot light on juvenile solitary confinement

Ending the inhumane practice of solitary confinement in juvenile facilities is among the greatest civil rights struggles of our time

Sep 14, 2015|Categories: Featured Update|

Poverty solutions from those who’ve experienced it

Said Alex Johnson: “Thank you to the three amazing young adult leaders who spoke passionately and deliberately about one of the most critical and overlooked public policy issues impacting our communities.

Aug 5, 2015|Categories: Featured Update|

Students and Parents Speak Out for Educational Equity in Long Beach

On June 2nd, we joined with youth leaders from the very Student Matters Campaign to protest Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD)’s failure to engage students, parents and community members in decisions on how to spend new funding intended to benefit high-needs students.

Jul 8, 2015|Categories: Featured Update|

YO!LB Youth Receive Young Leader’s Award

On June 27th, our YO!LB members Carlos, Mykel, and Danny were honored as Young Leaders at the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition’s Annual Year-End Celebration for their efforts to create and sustain change across their local communities in Long Beach.

Jun 27, 2015|Categories: Featured Update|

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