Justice for DC Youth: For a more effective juvenile system

DEAR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES:

It is with a great sense of accomplishment and pride that we announce that after nine wonderful years, Justice for DC Youth will be closing its doors.

Since 2001, JDCY has worked towards a fair and effective juvenile justice system in the District of Columbia. Our mission has been to shift the city’s priorities from incarceration to education. As our name implies, our target population has been DC youth- particularly those who are disproportionately affected by crime and the criminal justice system.

Over the years, JDCY has sought to enhance the quality of life for our young people and their families by ensuring that they have access to a fair and equitable juvenile justice system. Our core responsibility has been to educate, mobilize and organize our youth to serve as key constituents in our fight for justice. And we have succeeded in this quest!

The organization was founded with the express mission of closing Oak Hill. After a protracted struggle, that vision was achieved in May of 2009.

Additionally, our flagship program—the Prison to College Pipeline— has successfully mentored hundreds of young people. It will continue to flourish in its upcoming fifth academic year as a youth-led entity under the stewardship of our collegiate chapter.

This website, www.jdcy.org, will remain as an archive. For new information about the upcoming work with the Pipeline, please be sure to check out the blog link.

To every thing there is a season. We are thankful for the opportunity to have given so much to the critical issues JDCY has been dedicated to and look forward to our collective continued progress towards a better world.

Sincerely,

Shani Jamila O’Neal
Director
Justice for DC Youth

NATIONAL

1 in 3 Black boys and 1 in 6 Latino boys born in 2001 are at risk of imprisonment during their lifetime.
Students who are suspended from school are more than twice as likely to be incarcerated than students who have never been suspended.
Youth of color comprise 38 percent of the youth population, yet comprise nearly 70 percent of those who are confined.
Self-reported data indicates that African-American youth are not disproportionately committing crimes or engaging in delinquent behavior to warrant the disparities currently seen in the justice system.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

On any given day, 100% of the youth detained at Oak Hill/New Beginnings facility are of African and/or Latin descent.
85% of Latino and 91% of Black, non-Latino 4th graders cannot read at grade level.
81% of Latino and 92% of Black, non-Latino 4th graders cannot do math at grade level.
High School graduation rate for African American youth is 45%.
College admissions rate for African American youth is 33%.
College graduation rate for African American youth is 9%.