Tell the New Orleans City Council: Build a smaller jail

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Thanks in part to the efforts of hundreds of ColorOfChange members, the New Orleans City Council will vote this Thursday on a proposal to cap the new Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) at 1438 beds -- building a smaller jail and saving money for the good of the public.

Please join us in calling on the New Orleans City Council to support the cap.

Below is the text of the petition we'll send to members of the New Orleans City Council:

Dear New Orleans City Council members,

I am calling on you to support an ordinance to cap the Orleans Parish Prison at 1438 beds. This is a critical opportunity to shift the city’s focus away from costly, ineffective criminal justice strategies and toward smarter alternatives to incarceration.

Voting to build a smaller OPP would free funds to explore less expensive, more effective alternatives to incarceration such as substance abuse or mental health treatment centers. Also, voting to reduce the size of OPP would allow the Council to fund investment in critical infrastructure for the city, including education, recreation programs, job creation, good health care, and better roads.

I ask you to demonstrate to your constituents that New Orleans’ future depends on investing in our communities, not expanding our jails.  Please support the proposal to cap Orleans Parish Prison at 1438.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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