by Sarah Cusworth Walker, Ph.D., and Dr. Ben Danielson

Recent headlines about youth running away from a juvenile detention facility, and the fence currently under construction in response, have added fuel to an ongoing debate about our state’s juvenile rehabilitation system — how it’s working, if it’s working, and what to do to improve it. As that dialogue plays out, some may be tempted to adopt measures that isolate and punish young people. But now is a time to engage in careful and responsible policymaking. Research shows that investments in earlier intervention, not expensive investment in capital projects, will make our communities safer and allow young people to provide meaningful accountability to victims and seek a fresh start for their own lives.