YOUTH DETENTION CENTER
According to Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF), “Detention is a pivotal decision point in the juvenile justice process. It takes youth who are awaiting a court hearing or a move into a correctional or treatment facility and temporarily confines them instead of allowing them to return home or enter an alternative supervision program.”
(https://www.aecf.org/blog/kids-deserve-better-why-juvenile-detention-reform-matters) Nationally, 200,000 youth are admitted to detention facilities, and (per AECF), roughly 16,000 youth are held in detention on a nightly basis. Although the average length of stay is 27 days, their research suggests that even a short turn in detention can influence court outcomes and present potentially lifelong negative consequences for the young people involved.
Although some juvenile advisors suggest that detention, in certain cases, might benefit youth who have justice encounters, the list of major consequences of detention include the following:
A ticket to deeper system involvement. Youth placed into pretrial detention are far more likely to be formally charged, found delinquent and committed to youth corrections facilities than similarly situated young people who remain at home pending their court hearing. Detained youth are more likely to be rearrested, adjudicated or convicted of new offenses and incarcerated than youth who remain at home awaiting court or pending placement.
Exacerbated health issues. Locked detention can cause young people serious harm, both immediate and long-term, research indicates. Youth who spend time in custody are more likely to suffer mental health problems than comparable youth who are not detained. Harsh conditions and intensive supervision inside the facilities can also intensify symptoms for youth with serious mental health problems or a history of trauma or abuse.
A derailed academic track. Detention disrupts a young person’s schooling and makes it more likely that they will fail classes or drop out. When compared to peers who are not detained, youth who spent time in custody were less likely to complete high school and also less likely to find employment.
Detention is also unfair and costly. African-American, Hispanic and American Indian youth are far more likely than their white counterparts to be detained, even after controlling for the seriousness of an offense, offending history and other factors. In addition: Temporarily confining youth occurs at a significant cost to taxpayers — roughly $1 billion per year nationwide. Though expenditures vary from region to region, the average detention stay costs roughly $150 to $300 per day — or at least $70,000 per year for every bed occupied.
WATCH NEXT MONTH’S BLOG ON AECF’s RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION!
BLOG: WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ABOUT YOUTH DETENTION EXPERIENCES?