Is justice equal for youth offenders who find themselves caught up in the court system? A new report that calls attention to some disparities in the system.
Black teens are far more likely to be trapped in Virginia’s youth prison system. That’s according to a new report from Rise for Youth, a group that advocates for young people involved in the criminal justice system. It shows young people of color in Virginia are given longer sentences and adjudicated delinquent more frequently.
Executive director Valerie Slater says Virginia needs to move away from punitive models. “Unfortunately, we are still housing young people in an old, outdated, upwards of 200 bed adult prison style prison facility. That’s just wrong.”
Laura Goren at the Commonwealth Institute agrees the current system isn’t working. “Young black teens are getting trapped in the outdated youth prison system, and it’s really time for Virginia to turn its back on that outdated system and invest in proven alternatives to keep young people and communities safer.”
The two groups are now pressing lawmakers to reform the system for juvenile justice, using smaller facilities with a maximum of 30 young people close to relatives and community ties.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
