Media Justice Blog

‘It shouldn’t be that easy’

Department officials estimate that about two-thirds of the 1,200 inmates in the state's eight juvenile justice facilities have been diagnosed with a mental illness and that half the young men and nearly all the young women have thought about or attempted suicide before they enter the system.

While it may be impossible to eliminate all suicide risks behind bars, the state has failed to take simple steps to protect these teenagers from themselves.

Tags: 15-19, African American, criminal charges, drugs, family violence, fatherlessness, government involvement, gun violence, male, may 2010, mental illness, murder, non CPS, police involvement, poverty, prison industrial complex, suicide

Juvenile Probation-A Day on the Front Lines

Rodney Purdy is a Cook County Juvenile Probation officer. His job kicks in after a young person is found delinquent, or guilty, by a judge. Probation officers, or P.O.s, are, in a way, the eyes and ears of the court, making sure the kid follows through on the judge’s orders. Maybe to go through drug rehab or do community service or attend anger management class. The P.O is supposed to make sure the young person’s getting what’s needed, to stay out of prison and get a new footing in life.

Tags: 15-19, 848, African American, Chicago, CPS, criminal charges, drugs, Englewood, female, gang violence, government involvement, gun violence, january 2010, male, NPR, police involvement, poverty, prison industrial complex, roseland, school violence, south side, youth voices

Getting Out and Staying Out

Half the young people who get out of Illinois youth prisons end up back inside. They
just can't make it outside. When Illinois broke off its youth prisons from adult ones
three and a half years ago, it vowed to change that.

Tags: 15-19, 848, Chicago, criminal charges, female, gang violence, hispaniclatino, january 2010, non CPS, NPR, police involvement, prison industrial complex, school violence, south side, stealing, youth voices

Marcus on the Run

We start our series with Marcus, a 14-year-old boy who's struggling to graduate from grade school. Marcus is a pseudonym we're using to protect the young man's
identity.

Tags: 10-15, 848, African American, criminal charges, gang violence, january 2010, male, murder, NPR, police involvement, poverty, prison industrial complex, street violence, youth voices