Rally and Protest

WHAT: Close Swannanoa Valley YDC (JEC) this year and Protest the construction of new ABUSE CENTERS!

WHERE: Do Drop Inn
1609 US HWY 70
Black Mountain, NC

WHEN: Sunday, July 20th, 2003
10:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.

WHY: Taxpayers money to stop financing this failed Facility! SVYDC is the most notorious for sexual,
Physical and mental abuse of the children! By the
State’s standards, this facility is unfit for children to
Live in and would cost too much for renovation.

It’s time: It is time to say NO MORE abuse of our children!
It’s time: It is time to say EDUCATION for our children!
It’s time: It is time to say PROPER CARE for our children!
It’s time: It is time to say NO MORE dangerous living conditions!
It’s time: It is time to TAKE BACK CONTROL and stop funding these abuses and constitutional rights infringements!!!

If you are interested in joining our cause or for more information, please contact Janet Lowry at LowryJanet@msn.com or Carol McCoy at JustCarol2@aol.com

Sponsored by Coalition for Juvenile Justice Reform, Inc. (CJJR)

We have documented physical, sexual and mental abuse as well as neglect of youth in juvenile correctional facilities over the past few years. We formed The Coalition for Juvenile Justice Reform, Inc. to address these issues and lobby for major changes in the system of Juvenile Justice.

Our purpose is to educate the public of the widespread level of abuse and neglect in the juvenile justice system, the violations of basic rights and to change these injustices through public information, legislative action, and criminal and civil lawsuits.

We seek an end to the indeterminate sentence, a restoration of constitutional rights, a mandate for basic medical and remedial care, dental care, the return of a school program that meets the needs of youth, and which demonstrates accountability to the Department of Public Instruction. We seek an end to the unclear and non-effective treatment programs and the elimination of abusive methods by psychologists, social workers and behavior specialists. We seek a law preventing excessively long sentences for so-called therapies that produce high failure rates. We seek major changes in the use of force policies as well as disciplinary isolation policies. Once these changes take place, we seek a minimum of 3-5 years of governmental overviews of these facilities; which will include random, unannounced visits, anonymous questionnaires to be answered by staff, children and parents of children in these facilities and a fair and impartial grievance committee.

We are opposed to the building of new facilities at a cost of $90 million. We feel it’s unfair that taxpayers are responsible for the financing of these failures. We recommend more community based alternatives, smaller, more home like facilities and education not incarceration for our youth.

We have elicited the cooperation of the Emory Law School Southern Juvenile Defender Center, The Defense Foundation for Children, The NCATSA, Building Blocks for Youth/Youth Law Center, The NCCAI, Holtkamp Law Firm, White & Stradley Law Firm, Children’s Law Center , The Grassroots organization, The ACLU and a group of individual, private and pro bono attorneys who will work together on improving the life of youth in correctional facilities.

We are a non-profit corporation.

Hand in hand, we can and will make life better for the youth in state’s custody.

Please see Diary Section to click on links for more information!!!!



Janet Lowry, CEO
Becky Rivenbark, Director
Carol McCoy, Exec. Director of Planning
Monica McKinney, Exec. Director of Public Relations
JoAnne Johnson, Exec. Director of Education
John Drasler, Director, Arizona Office
Tammy Smith, Advertising WNC