FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2016
CONTACT: T.C. Morrow,
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Over 200 California Faith Leaders Call on Governor Brown to Support Legislation to Protect Youth from Placement in Long-term Isolation in Juvenile Facilities
Sacramento, CA – Today, California faith leaders and representatives of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) delivered "A Religious Call In Support of SB 1143: Toward A Future of Possibility for California's Youth" to the staff of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., signed by more than two hundred California faith leaders representing a diverse array of religious traditions statewide.
The letter to Governor Brown emphasizes the moral significance of SB 1143, legislation to protect youth from long-term isolation in California's juvenile facilities, calling it "an historic opportunity for California to lead the country in setting nationally recognized best standards to improve youth outcomes, in keeping with reforms in states nationwide to limit the use of long-term isolation for youth and adults, in favor of humane alternatives that prioritize rehabilitation and public safety." Earlier this year, President Obama questioned the practice of solitary confinement, describing it as "an affront to our common humanity." He issued a Presidential Memorandum to limit the use of isolation, which includes limits in federal juvenile facilities to a maximum of three hours, and a ban on its use for the purposes of punishment or discipline.
SB 1143, authored by Senator Mark Leno, passed the California Senate with nearly unanimous bipartisan approval. Last week, it passed the State Assembly and now heads to the Senate for concurrence before arriving at Governor Brown's desk. Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, NRCAT California Organizer, stated, "As moral leaders, we urge Governor Brown to stand with us in affirming that values of human dignity and rehabilitation should be foundational to maintaining juvenile facility safety and public safety. SB 1143 would limit the immoral practice of placing youth in long-term isolation in California's juvenile facilities, which is in the best interest of youth and staff."
Rev. Laura Markle Downton, NRCAT's Director of U.S. Prisons Policy and Program, stated, "Long-term isolation is globally recognized as torture, and it is a practice that should be abolished for young people. The practice is widely opposed by medical and mental health professionals, religious and human rights organizations, and leading corrections administrators. Nationwide, momentum is growing to replace solitary confinement with humane, rehabilitative alternatives. With Governor Brown's support, this is a moment for California to lead the way."
The letter to Governor Brown from faith leaders is available at http://www.nrcat.org/storage/documents/letter_to_gov_brown_082216.pdf
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, more than 300 religious organizations have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. Members include national denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local congregations.
TEXT OF THE LETTER:
August 22, 2016
Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Brown:
We write as clergy and religious leaders in California from a diverse array of faith traditions who stand together in strong support for SB 1143, a bill that would limit the immoral practice of placing youth in long-term isolation in California's juvenile facilities. Building on your commitment to promote policies rooted in restorative justice and opportunity, SB 1143 will set nationally recognized best standards into law regarding the use of "room confinement" in juvenile facilities. As moral leaders in our state, we urge you to support this bill.
Our various faith traditions hold in common a belief in the inherent dignity of every person, and the importance of fostering the health, potential and growth of every child. We have heard the brave testimony of the young people in our state who have survived isolation, and we stand in solidarity with them in declaring that not only does placing youth in conditions of isolation disrupt brain development, it demonstrates a fundamental failure to provide youth with the tools for a future of possibility and hope.
SB 1143, authored by Senator Mark Leno and sponsored by juvenile justice experts and advocates, as well as the Chief Probation Officers of California, recognizes the importance of education, programming and other pro-social activities that help improve outcomes for youth and meet the rehabilitative goals of the juvenile justice system. SB 1143 offers California an historic opportunity to lead the country in setting nationally recognized best standards to improve youth outcomes. This bill is in keeping with federal efforts and reforms in states throughout the country to limit the use of long-term isolation for youth and adults, in favor of humane alternatives that prioritize rehabilitation and public safety. Earlier this year, President Obama fundamentally questioned the practice of solitary confinement, describing it as "an affront to our common humanity." He issued a Presidential Memorandum to limit the use of isolation, which includes limits in federal juvenile facilities to a maximum of three hours, and a ban on its use for the purposes of punishment or discipline.
At our juvenile facilities, isolation makes everyone unsafe, which includes not only the youth, but also the staff. We believe that there are different interventions that could lead to better and safer outcomes. Our support for SB 1143 is rooted in our concern for the toxic environment isolation creates within facilities, including the high incidence of suicide amongst youth held in isolation. We affirm that facility safety, and public safety, can be maintained consistent with principles of human dignity and human rights.
Extended solitary confinement is globally recognized as torture, and a practice that should be abolished for young people. Juan Mendez, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, has testified that prolonged solitary confinement in excess of 15 days should be subject to an absolute prohibition based on scientific evidence of its psychological damage. He has called for a ban on its use for those most vulnerable to its impacts, including youth. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a revised version of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners to reflect these standards, known as the 'Nelson Mandela Rules.'
For all of the above reasons, and for the sake of bringing dignity and restored hope to our state's most vulnerable youth, we urge you to support SB 1143, and we stand with you in this important and needed legislation.
