A group of juvenile justice advocates met this week in Washington DC for the launch of the Stop Solitary for Kids campaign, a national effort to end solitary confinement and other forms of prolonged isolation for youth in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. The campaign is a result of a partnership between multiple juvenile justice and child advocacy groups, to end solitary confinement by working with decision makers across all branches and levels of government through “research, public education, policy reform, improved facility practices, legislative changes, training, and technical assistance.”

The launch event on April 19 featured a variety of speakers from across the country who are committed to ending solitary confinement for youth, including parent advocate Venida Browder. Ms. Browder’s son, Kalief, was placed in solitary confinement while awaiting a trial, which his mother said “destroyed” him mentally. After the prosecution was dropped and Kalief was released, he continued to struggle and eventually committed suicide—an all-too-common outcome for youth have endured solitary confinement. Ms. Browder is now a strong advocate for eliminating solitary confinement practices, which the campaign asserts “makes kids worse without making facilities safer.” Instead, the group advocates for policies and procedures that utilize solitary confinement only as a temporary response to specific behaviors, not a catch-all solution for youth with a wide variety of needs and situations. Although some states and jurisdictions have begun reforming their solitary confinement practices for juveniles, the campaign aims to expand those reforms to better protect youth across the country.

By Karissa Propson