Lawsuit: Juvenile Solitary Confinement Blocks Education
http://colorlines.com/archives/2014/03/lawsuit_juvenile_solitary_confinement_blocks_education.html
The following article published by Colorlines discusses the conditions experienced by incarcerated youth and youth involved in the juvenile system with a particular emphasis on educational resources. The article follows a lawsuit that was filed against Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall in for placing children with disabilities in solitary confinement for 23 hours, denying them any contact, and preventing their access to education resources. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three youth of color, one of whom spent a total of 90 days in solitary confinement triggering a psychotic break that resulted in three weeks of hospitalization.
The article highlights a number of problematic practices inside Contra Costa and facilities across the nation. Such as the practice of placing youth are "suspended" from the detention center school into solitary confinement. All of these issues prevent youth from keeping up with their education and significantly reducing the likelihood that they will be able to graduate from high school or continue with school upon their release. In mid-February, the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice released a joint statement in response to the lawsuit asserting that youth with disabilities in solitary confinement are entitled to appropriate public education.
There is a lot of complexity within this issue that raises many questions about education, but also the juvenile justice system, mental health system, disabilities and race. Many juvenile facilities do not provided adequate education for youth and even less so provide special education resources, despite the fact that the majority of youth involved in the system has special education needs and disabilities. Some youth may be able to continue their education while detained, only to find out their credits aren't accepted at their public school once released.
I have recently heard that there will be some research showing connections between education in juvenile justice centers and recidivism. Obviously, when re-entering society, it is difficult for youth to return to school and/or work and thrive with less education than their peers.
ReplyDelete