Harmful & Ineffective Practice of Treating Youth as Adults

The ability to prosecute youth in the adult criminal justice system or and place youth in adult jails and prisons has serious consequences for the well-being and safety of youth, families and communities. Youth treated as adults recidivate at higher rates and while in adult jails and prisons lack access to developmentally appropriate programming, such as education, and experience high rates of suicide and physical and sexual victimization. The Campaign for Youth Justice is a national organization dedicated to ending the practice of trying, sentencing and incarcerating youth under the age of 18 in the adult criminal justice system.On this episode, Liz Ryan, President and CEO, of Campaign for Youth Justice,will discuss the practice and consequences of transferring youth to the adult system and provide an overview of efforts of across the country to establish responses that are safer and more cost-effective. Tracy McClard will also be a guest on the show to share her story about her son who was transferred to the adult system, struggled to receive proper care, and tragically took his own life. She now fiercely advocates for reform of that practice.