Councilmembers Wells, Mendelson Co-Introduce Legislation to End the Pre-Trial Placement of Youth in Adult Jails

One day after convening a joint public oversight roundtable on “Youth Incarcerated at the D.C. Jail”, Councilmembers Tommy Wells and Phil Mendelson introduced legislation Tuesday to end the pre-trial placement of youth in adult jails.

“My number one priority is keeping residents safe,” stated Wells. He added, “From all reports and studies on this issue, youth are more likely to commit a crime after being housed in an adult jail rather than a facility appropriate for their age.”

Wells also cited a report on the condition of youth housed in the D.C. Jail that was submitted by the Departments of Youth Rehabilitation Services and Corrections at Monday’s roundtable.  The Council had called for the report last year in the FY08 Budget Support Act. 

“At the roundtable, we heard compelling testimony that the DC Jail is not a suitable facility for incarcerating juveniles while they await trial,” Wells said. “Forty seven percent, or almost half, of the youth detained are never convicted of the charge. But they can certainly get the wrong type of education while biding time with career criminals.”

“The youth spend an average of more than three months in the adult jail, where they often fail to receive necessary educational, mental health, and other services,” said Wells, adding, “Youth adjudicated in the juvenile system are given more chances to succeed, and are less likely to re-offend – making all of our neighborhoods safer. We must end the practice of putting the District’s youth in adult jails, and that is what this bill aims to do.”

The bill, entitled the “Juvenile Justice Improvement Amendment Act of 2008,” would authorize the Criminal Division of the D.C. Superior Court to consider whether a child who is charged as an adult should be adjudicated as a juvenile, and prohibit any juvenile from being detained in an adult facility.

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