It’s a huge deal — but YSI has responded by shamefully filing an official challenge to overturn our progress. (3) In order to counter YSI’s influence peddling and pave the way for additional contract cancellations, we need a groundswell of public pressure to ensure Governor Scott and Secretary Daly take the necessary steps to end the state’s for-profit youth prisons.
Will you join us in calling on Governor Scott and Secretary Daly to stop torturing youth for profit?
Florida’s for-profit youth prisons are a living nightmare — every day corporations like YSI and G4S, lock up thousands of Black and brown youth in some of the most abusive conditions in the country. A Florida YSI prison had the highest sexual abuse rates of 36 reviewed Florida facilities, yet the company still manages nine youth prisons across FL. Now, we have a critical opportunity to continue weakening the power of Florida’s for-profit prisons, limit their ability to torture youth, and create the space for a more humane and fair youth justice system. Instead of individualized, community and family based alternatives to incarceration that are more effective at rehabilitation, Florida funnels hundreds of millions of dollars to shameful for-profit prisons.
In the run up to Florida’s important election season, we must pressure Gov. Scott to show the necessary leadership to cancel additional private prison contracts and commit to an end to for-profit youth prisons.
Matt, Rashad, Arisha, Lyla, Jamar and the entire ColorOfChange.org team.