Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court of The United States’ In re Gault case declared that youth deserve the same legal protections as adults. Fast forward to today, an estimated 70-90% of young people in the U.S. juvenile justice system have experienced at least one type of severe trauma—often trapped in a cycle of punishment instead of support.
Despite landmark progress, the country is failing its most vulnerable citizens.
Speaking recently at a University of Notre Dame Institute for Social Concerns event, Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, said that this pervasive narrative declaring “some children aren’t children” must end.
This perspective is crucial as we confront the ongoing challenges within U.S. systems.
Recently in Milwaukee, Wi., the case of a now 12-year-old boy charged with murdering his mother, remains in adult court, as a judge will decide later if he will be moved into the juvenile system.
In Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves has reported he is charging 16 and 17-year-olds as adults in carjacking cases. Two 16-year-olds in Washington state were charged as adults and sentenced to prison for murder last year.
My journey in youth advocacy began as a survivor of the school-to-prison pipeline. For over a decade, focusing on advocating for Black, brown, and Indigenous youth, I have witnessed the transformative power of supporting young people, especially those from marginalized communities. As the Founder and Executive Director of The Hive I lead efforts to provide healing and support for the young people we serve while also attending to my own recovery.
In my home state of Virginia—a place often seen as a microcosm of the South—systemic racism presents formidable challenges. Yet, in 2017, I was part of a movement that successfully closed one of the state’s last two youth prisons, a victory highlighting the potential for change when communities come together.
Although youth incarceration impacts the entire culture, it disproportionately harms Black youth the most. The Sentencing Project states, “As of 2021, Black youth were 4.7 times as likely to be placed (i.e., detained or committed) in juvenile facilities as their white peers.” This has been the case for more than a decade.
The child welfare and juvenile justice systems produce long-lasting impacts on individuals and families. The U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention recently explored the relationship between maltreatment in the child welfare system as a contributor to involvement in the juvenile justice system. Yet, few programs target young people with dual system involvement.
A 2023 report from The Sentencing Project showed that, “Incarceration harms young people’s physical and mental health, impedes their educational and career success, and often exposes them to abuse.”
Yet, we still lead the world in youth incarceration.
The healing journey is ongoing for everyone involved—not just the individual but their entire family, community, culture, and country. The goal is to create a society that understands and nurtures our youth rather than criminalizes them.
The challenges are vast—from ending exclusionary school discipline to building an effective community-based continuum of support—but they are not insurmountable.
It is urgent to form collective action from community members, policymakers, educators, administrators, leaders, survivors, and advocates. Investing in preventative measures and supportive resources that address the root causes of youth involvement in the justice system is crucial.
By establishing tangible investments in the diverse needs of young people, it is possible to help break the cycle of trauma and empower young people to make positive choices.
That process begins with listening to the voices of youth and those who have lived these experiences. Change begins with empathy and understanding. By fostering partnerships among community organizations, schools, and families, a network of support can be created that ensures every young person feels valued and seen.
It is necessary to build a future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive, free from the shackles of systemic injustice.
The time for change is now, and American youth deserve nothing less than unwavering commitment to their futures. It is critical to stand together and advocate for the healing, care, and justice they need to flourish.
