The high price of detaining youth goes far beyond the monetary costs to state and local jurisdictions. Detention disrupts normal adolescent development by disconnecting youth from their families, positive social supports, and interfering with their education. The disconnect between the youth and the community often leads to an increased risk of dropping out of school, higher recidivism rates, and increased difficulty in securing employment as an adult.
Detention has been traditionally used after a youth has been formally charged with a crime, but is still presumed innocent and awaiting trial. More and more it has become a “time out” system supposedly – despite lack of good outcome evidence – to teach youth a lesson that they should comply with rules of supervision. Of course, it is not clear what “lesson” they are learning!! Youth of color, children with learning disabilities, and kids with child welfare system involvement are disproportionately locked up further highlighting the need for dramatic reform.
Across the U.S., community-based alternatives and restorative justice initiatives are being implemented to limit the number of youth being detained. Following suit, Massachusetts is beginning to build on local movements to reduce the number of children and adolescents in detention. The report “Unlocking potential”: Addressing the overuse of juvenile detention in Massachusetts” explores the consequences of detention for youth and ways that the state can help keep youth in their homes and community. Keeping youth who have committed a crime connected to pro-social supports in their community is better for their long-term development and rehabilitation.
There has been great progress in creating alternatives to detention, but there is still much work to be done. The Annie E. Casey Foundation Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) has been successfully implemented across the country and reduced the number of children in detention. In Wisconsin, the Department of Justice is working with JDAI to bring those principles and practices to Manitowoc, Milwaukee, and Racine counties. Expanding models like the JDAI and implementing restorative justice and diversion practices can help us ensure that youth are receiving the services they need to move forward and that they are not being harmed by the system they most need to help them.
by Emily Bergman
