Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

For the past nine months, advocates have been mounting a campaign to improve the living conditions of youth incarcerated in California’s juvenile halls, camps and ranches. Changes up for approval include requirements that correctional staff respect the gender identity of youth, and that incarcerated youth are granted visits from their children.

by Kristin Herbert “I was 15 the first time I went to solitary,” said Edwin R., now in his late 20s. “I had just found out my father passed away, and this guy called me over to fight.