Campaign Tools

Looking for ways to start a Campaign in your state? This page has everything you need to launch your own crusade to diminish the involvement of youth in the adult criminal justice system. Don’t think you have the time to make a difference? We have several ideas and tools that only take a few minutes but have a big impact.

› Media Guide
› Legislative Guide
› Interview Guide
› Take Action Toolkit for Organizations
› Organizing Tips
› Student Organizer
› Mother's Day Toolkit
› Childhood Interrupted
› Holiday Toolkit

 




Media Guide [return to top]

Interested in learning how to use the media to spread your message? The Media Guide explains how you can cooperate with news agencies to get your message into the spotlight. Planning media hits, writing media materials, pitching stories, and more are all covered in this comprehensive yet easy to understand manual.

Media Guide (PDF 268 KB)



Legislative Guide [return to top]


Want to find out how to contact legislators and get them on your side? The legislative guide shows how you can educate your legislators about important issues which they may have otherwise overlooked. Plenty of sample materials and templates make contacting your legislator easy and effective.

Legislative Guide (PDF 204 KB)



Interview Guide [return to top]

This interview guide is intended to use for the purpose of interviewing current and formerly incarcerated youth in the adult criminal justice system, their parents and families. The guide can be used for a variety of purposes; including to document experiences and identify patterns; to establish a connection with these youth and their families; to engage, involve and empower youth, parents and families in the policy process; and to illustrate concretely to policymakers, the public, and the media how state policies which try and sentence youth directly impact youth, their parents, and families. The ultimate goal of conducting these interviews is to inform and change public policy with the involvement of those most directly impacted – youth incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system.

Interview Guide (PDF 288 KB)



Take Action Toolkit for Organizations [return to top]

This kit is intended to provide you with the background information and the tools to take action on state policies and practices that try and sentence youth in the adult criminal justice system.
Take Action (PDF 3.4 MB)




Organizing Tips [return to top]

Coming Soon!



Student Organizer [return to top]

Are you a teacher or a student interested in social justice issues? Here is a sample Student Organizer Workshop from the "Raise the Age" Campaign in Connecticut that will provide leadership and skill building while engaging students.
Student Organizer (DOC 212 KB)



Mother's Day Toolkit [return to top]

The Mother's Day toolkit provides ideas and sample materials for connecting mothers and their children on Mother's Day, engaging more mothers in your advocacy efforts, and raising awareness about this important issue.

 

The Mother's Day Toolkit is available in two formats:

DOC Format (196 KB)

PDF Format (312 KB)



Childhood Interrupted [return to top]

Get your friends and family involved in youth justice with our great new tool. It’s a short DVD designed to get people thinking and spark discussion about the practice of trying youth in the adult system. Also included is a Discussion Guide, which can be used to further exchange about this important issue. For your free copy of this DVD, contact Jessica Sandoval at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


See the clip!




Holiday Toolkit [return to top]

The holiday season provides us with a unique opportunity to reach out and make meaningful connections with youth who are detained or incarcerated in adult jails and correctional facilities across the country. Spending the holidays away from family can be hard, but being locked up too far from home to receive visits is especially painful for both the children and their families. It means so much to these youth when someone remembers them, even with the simplest gift, card or event. It gives these youth hope to know that someone cares, someone thinks about them, and someone is working for them throughout the year.

This toolkit includes a few ideas for holiday projects that you can put together to reach out to incarcerated youth. Besides making a difference to these most affected populations, holiday outreach is an amazing opportunity to connect with, inform, and empower community groups. If you are working as part of an organization, this outreach will enhance your organization's visiblity in the community and strengthen its partnerships in the field.

 

Holiday Toolkit