Prison Fellowship, the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading advocate for criminal justice reform, is encouraged by new statistics released by the Department of Justice on the significant drop in the number of juveniles that are incarcerated. Newly released figures from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program reveal:
- The number of youths incarcerated around the nation fell to 43,580, which is a 60 percent decrease since 2000;
- Of those incarcerated, Latino youths in juvenile facilities fell by 13 percent, African-American youths dropped by 11 percent, and Native American youths decreased by 10 percent; and
- All age groups continue to see declines, including a substantial 11 percent drop for 17-year-olds.
“Prison Fellowship has been a leader in advocating for less reliance on youth incarceration for over 40 years,” said James Ackerman, President and Chief Executive Officer for Prison Fellowship. “When young people are held accountable in ways that reflect their dignity and potential, we see better outcomes for public safety, stronger families, and better futures for youth. That’s why Prison Fellowship continues to work with states to advance a truly restorative model of youth justice.”
“This dramatic decrease in youth incarceration has been driven by adopting approaches to youth justice that hold incarceration as a last resort,” said Craig DeRoche, senior vice president of Prison Fellowship. “This work in several states across the country has been achieved through longstanding partnerships between juvenile justice department officials, lawmakers, advocates, and families. Everyone working on criminal justice reform in America can learn from this approach—rather than warehousing people in prisons, many men and women would benefit from community-based punishment that offers character building and skill development without sacrificing safety.”
About Prison Fellowship
Prison Fellowship is the nation's largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading advocate for criminal justice reform. With more than 40 years of experience helping restore men and women behind bars, Prison Fellowship advocates for federal and state criminal justice reforms that transform those responsible for crime, validate victims, and encourage communities to play a role in creating a safe, redemptive, and just society.
If you would like to schedule an interview with a Prison Fellowship representative, please contact
Jim Forbes at (703) 554-8540 or email at Jim_forbes@pfm.org.
###