YSRP Co-Directors Quoted in the Erie Times on Youth Detained as Adults
This cell, photographed Sept. 12, is located in the juvenile section of B Pod at the Erie County Prison. JACK HANRAHAN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS
The Erie Times recently published a piece about youth being held in their local jail — of the approximately 700 prisoners, only 18 are minors. The Times reached out to YSRP Co-Directors for additional context on the detainment of youth as adults — read the full article here, and excerpts below:
“Joanna Visser Adjoian and Lauren Fine, co-directors of the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, an advocacy group in Philadelphia, said housing juvenile inmates in adult prisons can have negative effects. Juveniles in adult prisons are more likely to suffer abuse and emotional problems while incarcerated, Adjoian said, and can have difficulty adjusting when they are released from prison.
Young inmates could also be less able than adults to comprehend the consequences they could be facing, Fine said.
Our perspective on it is that holding kids in juvenile justice facilities that are designed for youths is preferable,” Fine said.”
The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee voted to advance HB 1381 today, which YSRP hopes will usher in a more humane era of support and care for youth involved in the criminal legal system.