newYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
I was 15 when I first entered the juvenile justice system. After a few years in and out, at 18, I was old and completely on my own. I wanted to take a better path. But I had no work experience, no marketable skills, and no one to mentor me. On top of that, I was afraid that if people knew about my past, I would be stigmatized.
My therapist then suggested a program that changed my life.
In 2019, he joined Café Momentum, a restaurant that offers a year of paid internships and a support ecosystem for young people involved in justice. Today, I am an aspiring dental assistant, mentor to other systemic youth, and an advocate for change in the juvenile justice system. Starting a for-profit cosmetology school. And I am confident that with a newfound belief in myself, I can achieve it.
Most children trapped in our justice system never had a chance to grow up and fight. (iStock)
Unfortunately, most justice young people aren’t given the first chance Cafe Momentum gave me. Most children trapped in our justice system never had a chance to grow up and fight. And contact with the justice system only makes it more difficult for them to forge new paths.
Felons are grooming children to commit crimes, law is on their side, Sheriff says
That has certainly been my experience. My father was imprisoned when I was young. Without him, I took a wrong turn and became a victim of human trafficking. I am currently a survivor. But despite going through all that trauma, it took me years to get the help I needed from the system.
This is because the current system is not set up to support young people’s active participation.
The United States has the highest youth incarceration rate in the world, 11 times higher than Western Europe. Some children in custody are under the age of 12.
The United States has the highest youth incarceration rate in the world, 11 times higher than Western Europe. (iStock)
During my time in the system, I witnessed the racial divide my peers had to contend with. For example, a black youth is nearly five times more likely to be imprisoned than a white youth.
Juvenile facilities are not rehabilitation facilities. They exacerbate mental and physical health problems. And recidivism rates are high within five years of release, with up to 84% of incarcerated youth reoffending, as young people do little to prepare them for reintegration, continued education, and secure employment. To do. A recent report from Dallas, Texas, where I live, found that the city’s juvenile justice system is actually producing more crime. According to the District Attorney, “Instead of rehabilitating the children, many of them probably produced criminals.”
Undoubtedly, the current situation is the failure of the system, not the youth. And there is plenty of evidence to prove it.
In a recent cohort, nearly 90% of Café Momentum interns graduated from or were enrolled in high school, but nationally, only one-third of judicial youth attended high school. . Café Momentum has a 0% reconviction rate for interns, while the Texas average is 12%.
Café Momentum has a 0% reconviction rate for interns, while the Texas average is 12%. (iStock)
BronxConnect is another example of what is possible with a proactive support system for young people. This incarceration alternative for youth involved in New York City courts offers mentorship, case management services, and educational and job support. A 2018 study found that 97% of program participants had been charged with violent felonies but remained acquitted three years later.
On the West Coast, Fresh Lifelines for Youth offers mentorship programs, case management support, legal education, community-building events, and other re-entry assistance for young people exiting the justice system. More than 80% of her program participants have not relapsed.
Pennsylvania juvenile detention center had ‘dangerous lack of supervision,’ report says
There are countless examples of community programs throughout the county that help young people navigate better paths. I am living proof of what is possible when people believe in you instead of dismissing you as disposable.
The current juvenile justice system is not set up to empower young people to succeed. We need to change the way we think about juvenile law in America. We need to grow community programs that provide young people with the support, resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities and society.
First, it is important to provide transferable and marketable job skills. A restaurant job is a good example. (iStock)
Based on my experience, a successful program includes the following elements:
First, it is important to provide transferable and marketable job skills. A restaurant job is a good example. It may not seem obvious, but the skills you develop working in a restaurant are highly transferable.
The customer service skills I developed by interacting with guests, scheduling appointments over the phone and computer, learning how to be a team player and having good work ethics helped me in my dental training And they apply to most other industries.
Members of my cohort have followed all sorts of career paths, including nursing, entrepreneurship, and the military. They all credit Café Momentum for providing baseline skills.
A successful program must be holistic in its approach and teach life skills that the justice system and our educational system skip, such as how to manage bank accounts. , are important for any program that aims to bring successful young people involved in justice. It also provides opportunities for young people to explore their innate talents and talents. Through these classes I discovered my passion for advocacy and public speaking. That is why I am writing this today.
Members of my cohort have followed all sorts of career paths, including nursing, entrepreneurship, and the military. (iStock)
Then there’s the structure. I believe this is why my experience at Café Momentum was so successful. Structure provides young people with the framework they need to break out of the justice system, learn valuable time management skills, and practice self-discipline.
Finally, a successful program requires an ecosystem of support. Young people need someone who believes in them. As soon as I walked through the doors of Café Momentum, I knew they believed in me. Having a group of people who have looked beyond my experience and recognized the potential within me cannot tell you how empowering this has been. Same situation as me just 4 years ago That is why I decided to become a leader of the youth in
Click here to get the opinion newsletter
I have big goals for the future, but I know I’ve grown and changed since my teenage years, so I’m no longer ashamed to talk about my past. I also know that my experience in the juvenile justice system as a teenager helped shape me into the ardent advocate I am today. After all, you can’t testify without taking a test.
No one is disposable. From business leaders to nonprofits, it’s time for communities to give young people a first chance to fight. You may be surprised at what they have achieved.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
