Join James Forman Jr., a Yale Law professor and Pulitzer Prize winner, alongside juvenile justice experts David Muhammad, Laura Abrams, and Katherine Lucero, as they unpack the striking 77% decline in juvenile incarceration from 2000 to 2020. They delve into the reasons behind this trend, contrasting punitive past practices with a focus on rehabilitation. The conversation also covers California's role, the challenges linked to COVID-19, and innovative community approaches that prioritize healing over punishment, offering a compassionate view of youth justice.
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insights INSIGHT
Significant Drop in Juvenile Incarceration
Juvenile incarceration in the U.S. has declined by a surprising 77% since its peak in 2000.
This decrease, tracked by organizations like the Sentencing Project, prompted further investigation into its causes and effects.
insights INSIGHT
California's Juvenile Incarceration Trends
California's juvenile incarceration trends mirrored national ones, with a steep rise followed by a significant decline.
California stands out as being at the forefront of both the increase and subsequent decrease.
insights INSIGHT
Relationship Between Crime and Incarceration
Declining crime rates are a major factor in reduced juvenile incarceration, as shorter sentences mean fewer incarcerated youth overall.
However, reduced incarceration itself may contribute to lower crime by lessening exposure to harmful prison environments.
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In this book, James Forman Jr. explores the historical context and consequences of tough-on-crime measures adopted by many African American leaders in urban centers during the 1970s and 1980s. Forman, a former public defender, examines how these policies, intended to address rising crime and drug addiction, ultimately contributed to mass incarceration and had devastating effects on poor black neighborhoods. The book combines historical research with personal anecdotes from Forman's work as a public defender, highlighting the human cost of these policies and the need for a more compassionate approach to crime and justice.
Compassionate Confinement: A Year in the Life of Unit C
Compassionate Confinement: A Year in the Life of Unit C
A Year in the Life of Unit C
Laura Abrams
Laura Abrams' "Compassionate Confinement" offers an intimate look into the daily lives of youth within a juvenile detention unit. The book provides a nuanced perspective on the challenges faced by both the incarcerated youth and the staff working within the system. Abrams explores the complexities of balancing rehabilitation with security and accountability. The narrative highlights the emotional toll of confinement on young people and the efforts made to provide care and support. The book serves as a powerful reminder of the human element within the juvenile justice system.
Between 2000 and 2020, the number of young people incarcerated in the United States declined by an astonishing 77 percent. Red states and blue states alike lock up fewer kids than in 2000 — and in most, the drops have been precipitous: more than half of states have experienced declines of 75 percent or more. In his New York Times Magazine piece, Yale Law professor James Forman examines the reasons for the drop in incarceration and how states are responding. We talk to Forman and California experts about what the statistics can tell us about our shifting juvenile justice system and what we’ve learned about addressing youth crime.
Guests:
James Forman Jr., professor of law, Yale Law School; won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his book, "Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America;" his most recent piece in the New York Times Magazine is titled, "What Happened When America Emptied Its Youth Prisons"
David Muhammad, executive director, National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform; former Chief Probation Officer for Alameda County
Laura Abrams, professor of social welfare, UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs; author of "Compassionate Confinement: A Year in the Life of Unit C" and "Everyday Desistance: The Transition to Adulthood Among Formerly Incarcerated Youth"
Katherine Lucero, director, Office of Youth and Community Restoration; former supervising judge in juvenile court, Santa Clara County Superior Court
KQED's Forum 