Innocent Appeal. Fusion started this petition to President Barack Obama
America’s juvenile justice system is broken. Every day, we’re putting thousands of kids, some as young as 11 years old, into solitary confinement, a practice that results in profound neurological and psychological damage. It’s time we bring a stop to this. Tell President Obama to end the use of solitary confinement for minors!
Of all developed nations, the US is #1 in incarcerating children, and it’s estimated that over 70% of the kids we lock up suffer from mental health disorders. Skipping school and running away are among the reasons we lock kids up, and in some states, up to 80% of kids in jail are either African American or Hispanic.
Recently President Obama even called the entire practice into question asking: “Do we really think it makes sense to lock so many people alone in tiny cells for 23 hours a day, sometimes for months or even years at a time?”
President Obama, it’s time we bring a stop to this and it needs to start with protecting our kids.
From coast to coast, momentum is building across our country. More than a dozen states are considering actions to limit solitary confinement. Federal legislation has been introduced that would prohibit the practice unless it’s a temporary way to prevent serious harm to a child or others. So now it’s on us to take this straight to the top: the White House.
Sign your name to this petition and stand up with Americans everywhere to stop the use of solitary confinement for minors.
We need to stop inflicting profound damage on the future of our country. We need to start treating kids like kids.
On behalf of FUSION, Russell Simmons and All Def Digital, Univision, The Root, MIT Center for Civic Media, Incarcerated Nation Inc., The Student Alliance for Prison Reform, Koch Industries, FreedomWorks and National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition, we urge you to sign this, opt in and stand up for #PrisonKids with us.