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Health & Fitness

Push to Stop Youth Jail Intensifies

About 300 people gathered inside the War Memorial Building on Thursday, November 8, to lead a rallying cry against the state's plans to build a youth jail in Baltimore City.

About 300 people gathered inside the War Memorial Building on Thursday, November 8, to lead a rallying cry against the state’s plans to build a youth jail in Baltimore City.

The collection of parents, educators, students, activists and local leaders was joined by iconic civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., who traveled to Baltimore to protest against building a $100 million youth detention center that research shows is not needed. Baltimore and its citizens would be better served by the state investing the money in programs that have proven to prevent juvenile delinquency, Rev. Jackson said.

The rally was organized by Baltimore's Safe & Sound Campaign, which has been at the forefront of the push to prevent the consutrction of a new youth jail.

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Gov. Martin O’Malley has indicated that he plans to move forward with building the youth jail in spite of research that identifies alternative methods that are more effective and less costly. Following months of meetings and conversations with Gov. O’Malley, youth advocates have called for the reallocation of nearly $100 million in funding for the jail toward a broader, more comprehensive plan that promotes youth success by investing in alternatives to detention like apprenticeships, jobs and recreational opportunities.

If you support investing in additional youth programming please contact Gov. O’Malley and your state representatives and demand that they reallocate the funding for a youth jail toward programs with a proven track record of enriching the lives of Baltimore

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