Capstone Project: Examining Outcomes for Our JJ Youth: Through the Lens of Racial Disparity and Child Welfare
Until July 1, 2018, the Department of Children and Families oversaw the commitment of roughly 200 youth adjudicated by the court as delinquent across the state. For Region 1, which consists of the greater Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, and Greenwich communities, over the past six years, this representation ranged from 55-90 cases at any given time. Some months, we had as many as ten new commitments in thirty days. What often struck me in doing this work was the vast majority of our commitments involved youth of color. Very few Caucasian adolescent boys and girls were committed delinquent by the court and placed into the most secure settings. In addition to that, these cases involve families with histories of abuse and neglect of these now-adolescent youth. Although many of the towns that fall within the Region 1 catchment area are affluent, there is considerable poverty. Many of our youth of color grow up in an impoverished community, with parents who struggle with substance use, domestic violence, mental health issues, and trauma. Their delinquency is often part of the more significant problem of the neglect they face at home and cannot be met without addressing their parents’ needs.
It is essential to consider the context of where these youth came from, their backgrounds, whether they experienced childhood trauma, and what impact that might have had on their delinquency involvement. It is essential as we begin to look at how we can impact the next generation of children experiencing childhood abuse and neglect and what we can do to influence whether they will become involved in the criminal justice system.