HOME

WHY 
TRANSFORM

WHY 
TRANSFORM YOUTH 
JUSTICE?

THE CASE FOR TRANSFORMATION

Setting a new direction toward deep transformation, this project maps an alternative, community-based, family-focused, evidence-informed vision of youth justice in America.

scroll down

YOUTH 
JUSTICE?

OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE EXPERIENCED A SEA CHANGE IN ROLE AND FUNCTIONING, WITH PROFOUND IMPACTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

The history of youth justice in the United States and the success of innovative efforts like those presented throughout this project show that there is a clear case for transformation of these systems across the country.

Facing the abysmal results and injustices of the late 1980s-mid-1990s’ mass incarceration binge, a bipartisan consensus began to emerge at the turn of the century that incarceration had failed as a public policy choice for both youth and adults. Given the tireless work of advocates, programs, researchers and community and system leaders, a trend then began to move nationwide to reduce the number of youth in locked institutions, and develop effective community-based alternatives. Some jurisdictions have succeeded in eliminating youth incarceration altogether.
Despite these pivotal changes, and the clear failures of incarceration, the fundamental model of youth corrections in most jurisdictions remains rooted in incarceration and control-based probation supervision, the brunt of which are borne most heavily by youth of color. It is time for bold transformation, nationwide. By presenting a picture of the failures of that fundamental model, we set the stage for community-driven solutions which we know to be more effective for young people and their families.

THE FAILED INSTITUTIONAL MODEL OF INCARCERATION.

The institutional incarceration model that most jurisdictions rely upon continues to demonstrate long-standing flaws and failures to achieve these goals, with practices that harm rather than help young people.

RACIAL DISPARITIES ARE EXTREME.

Click to
flip card

RACIAL DISPARITIES ARE EXTREME.

Racial disparities are extreme, with youth of color greatly over-represented at every stage of the system.

Click to
flip card

ABUSE IS PERVASIVE.

Click to
flip card

ABUSE IS PERVASIVE.

Abuse is pervasive in these institutions, with validated reports of physical and sexual assault as well as reliance on inhumane methods of control such as shackles, pepper spray and extended isolation in 80% of the states.

Click to
flip card

RECIDIVISM RATES ARE HIGH.

Click to
flip card

RECIDIVISM RATES ARE HIGH.

Recidivism rates are extraordinarily high among youth who have been incarcerated, with research demonstrating that incarcerated youth are more likely to re-offend than similar youth who have not been incarcerated.

Click to
flip card

THE COST CONTINUES TO CLIMB.

Click to
flip card

THE COST CONTINUES TO CLIMB.

As the overall number of incarcerated youth has dropped, the annualized cost per youth continues to climb. The average annual cost for incarceration across all states is $215,000 per young person, while the annual costs per young person in a number of states has ballooned to over $500,000.

Click to
flip card

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE POOR.

Click to
flip card

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE POOR.

Long-term outcomes for these youth are terribly poor: lower educational attainment and employment; high rates of homelessness; behavioral and emotional problems; poor physical health; and problems in forming stable family relationships.

Click to
flip card
The most common remaining objection to abolishing incarceration for young people—youth prisons—is a perceived lack of alternatives to protect public safety. Even people who acknowledge the failures of youth prisons believe they are necessary to securely confine young people who are at high risk of committing violent crimes. A number of jurisdictions have, however, developed diverse community-based continua of care, effectively replacing youth prisons. Although no jurisdiction has yet implemented a community-based strategy effective enough to eliminate completely the need for any form of secure confinement, that is the North Star of the Taking on Transformation project.
To guide other leaders forward, we share examples of how jurisdictions nationally are moving toward realizing this vision. This transformative vision for youth justice includes: Diverting most youth from the system Shifting roles, responsibilities and resources to communities, creating diverse and effective community-based continua of care Reducing the number of young people in secure custody to very small numbers, and Rethinking secure custody, ensuring that youth are supported in home-like facilities focused on positive youth development, family cohesion and community centeredness

ULTIMATELY, WE HOPE THESE EXAMPLES WILL HELP SHED LIGHT ON HOW TO TRANSITION TO THE NEXT STAGE OF TRANSFORMATION—A WORLD IN WHICH YOUTH ARE THRIVING AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, SUPPORTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND SECURE CONFINEMENT IS NO LONGER NEEDED.