Juvenile Detention

June 6, 2023

In California's youth justice system, many high schoolers graduate with grade-school reading skills

A shift of incarcerated youth from state to county facilities is putting a spotlight on their education and whether they leave knowing how to read.

Betty Márquez Rosales And Daniel J. Willis

March 31, 2023

Collaboration at center of keeping students in school after juvenile detention

Oakland's Hattie Tate is at the center of a successful reentry program that focuses on strengthening the relationship between school staff and students who have been newly released from juvenile detention.

Betty Márquez Rosales

March 3, 2023

California’s juvenile justice system seeks to end the incarceration of girls and young women

California has launched an initiative to end the incarceration of girls and young women after finding success with a pilot based in Santa Clara County.

Betty Márquez Rosales

October 5, 2022

We can do more to provide high-quality education to students in juvenile detention

High-quality educational services are a critical component of redirecting youth toward a path of productive academic and social outcomes.

 Angela James and Debra Duardo

September 19, 2022

An island of reading for youth in the California juvenile justice system

A partnership between Alameda County's library, office of education, and probation department has led to a colorful, culturally inclusive library inside the county juvenile hall staffed with permanent staff who try to teach youth a love of reading and learning.

Betty Márquez Rosales

April 28, 2022

A former judge leads plan to overhaul California’s juvenile justice system

Judge Katherine Lucero is leading California’s massive transformation of its juvenile justice system by June 2023. In this Q&A, Lucero provides insight into how she plans to lead the shift.

Betty Márquez Rosales

March 14, 2022

Report finds schools in L.A. County's youth justice system lacking

A recent citizens review of the L.A. County juvenile justice system found that the classrooms lack a "culture of learning" and that the quality of the instruction offered "is generally far below expectations."

Betty Márquez Rosales

January 20, 2022

A push for California to release youth from state custody amid Covid outbreak

Advocates are calling for early releases from California's youth detention facilities amid their largest Covid-19 outbreak, citing early releases from adult prisons over the past two years.

Betty Márquez Rosales

October 19, 2021

Stanford study finds why writing a letter to a teacher can turn around the lives of some students

Formerly incarcerated students were less than half as likely to return to jail after they wrote to their teachers.

Carolyn Jones

October 14, 2021

Could juvenile detention centers look like college campuses?

Could juvenile detention facilities look more like college campuses, with the same opportunities provided?

EdSource staff

October 11, 2021

New state law puts California’s Juvenile Justice System at a crossroads | Quick Guide

Recent laws have spurred historic changes to the state's juvenile system, where hundreds of young people are incarcerated each year at one of the state's four facilities.

Betty Márquez Rosales

October 7, 2021

Changes to California's youth prison system prove difficult to implement

By 2023 each county will have to take over the responsibility of finding appropriate housing facilities for young people in their local juvenile justice system. Implementing the law is proving to be difficult.

Betty Márquez Rosales

September 1, 2016

Counties turn to 'transition specialists' to help students in court schools succeed

A voter-approved state sentencing law has cut the time students spend in court schools.

Michael Collier