Mandate Safe Conditions of Confinement With Basic Services
Current detention populations and readmissions can be reduced by ensuring the safety of detained youth and providing appropriate services. Both limit risks that may drive youth deeper into the system. Successful rehabilitation and community reintegration require humane living conditions, adequate treatment for medical and mental health problems, stimulating educational and recreational opportunities, and other services and resources.
What Can Policymakers Do?
· Mandate Youth Safety.
- Limit confinement. New Jersey amended the State Administrative Code to reduce the maximum number of consecutive days youth can be confined in their rooms. [i]
- Set standards. Mississippi legislation specifies minimum standards for juvenile detention centers. [ii]
- Increase oversight. Hawaii legislators appropriated over $1.3 million to improve operations and oversight at the Hawaii Youth Detention Facility. [iii] Florida created the Juvenile Justice Accountability Commission to develop and implement a comprehensive evaluation system. [iv]
· Require Basic Services in Detention.
- Ensure quality care. California legislators enacted a comprehensive Youth Bill of Rights outlining rights of juveniles to quality care. [v]
- Health, mental health, educational services. Mississippi legislation requires educational and health care services for detained youth.[vi] New Jersey mandates comprehensive mental health services and suicide risk screening for juveniles in detention. [vii]
[i] 2005 N.J. Admin. Code § 13:101-6.17.
[ii] 2006 Miss. Laws (SB 2818). [iii] 2007 Hawaii Ses. Laws (SB 2334). [iv] 2006 Fla. Laws (HB 199). [v] 2007 Calif. Stats (SB 518). [vi] 2006 Miss. Laws (SB 2818). [vii] 2007 N.J. Laws (A2281).