[ad_1]
Re: “Address problems in youth prison before the chance is lost” [Jan. 26, Opinion]:
Conflating the failures of the Department of Children, Youth and Families to keep young people safe in the state prison for youth with the threat that we cannot sustain serving youth to the age of 25 is harmful, old-fashioned thinking. That message wrongly focuses the problem on incarcerated youth. The danger is to suggest that there is something “wrong” with older youth or that they are uniquely dangerous or scary. This is a slide backward toward a “superpredator” way of thinking that led to incredibly harmful, racist policies that have hurt generations in our community. Multiple bills sit before the Legislature that seek to remedy this harm.
We need to step outside this culture that fears the youth who need our help. We should embrace our power as adults and leaders, draw on expertise from lived experts most impacted by incarceration, and innovate to serve the youth and young adults in a way that upholds the promise of rehabilitation. We also should demand accountability from the system that is charged with providing a safe environment for rehabilitation. Senate Bill 6273 seeks to audit Juvenile Rehabilitation facilities including the provision of rehabilitation, treatment, support and services. We urge the Legislature’s support.
Karen Pillar, director of policy and advocacy, TeamChild, Seattle
[ad_2]
Source link