Teenagers in Limbo: The Reality of Juvenile Detention

Washington’s juvenile justice agency appeared to finally be reformed. After decades of court monitoring, a judge declared in late 2020 that the long-troubled Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services could return to the mayor’s control.

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) promised “a focus on restorative justice, love, and empowerment” that would “serve and improve the lives of our young people, their families, and our entire community.”

Instead, progress at the agency – charged with setting serious and repeat teen offenders on a better path – unraveled as youth crime spiked, a Washington Post investigation found.

Today on the show, investigative reporter Nicole Dungca tells “Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi about some of the teens and children who spent months in a violent detention center as waits grew longer for rehabilitation programs.

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Today’s episode was produced by Peter Bresnan with help from Sean Carter, who also mixed the show. It was edited by Reena Flores. Thank you to Lisa Gartner and David Fallis.