Access to Education

Written by Grace Yu-Phelps-Newton Country Day School and Celine Min-Forest Ridge

Access to education in the juvenile justice system is crucial yet oftentimes it is neglected. Even when education is available it is not always the best which leads to children who have been in the juvenile justice system often lacking the ability to be successful in adulthood.

Growing up in New York, Jeremy Taveras did fine academically but often misbehaved in school. He was later fined for graffiti activity and arrested for assault, gang, and theft-related activity. This landed him in the Martin de Porres, a group home. Jeremy had a different experience than most people do when arrested. Over the course of Jeremy ’ s 18 months at Martin de Porres, he built a relationship with the staff, which led him to improve his behavior. He continued his education in class with other kids his grade and age at Martin de Porres. This experience made it possible for Jeremy to live a happy and successful life, all because some people gave him the chance.

Prior to being charged with six felonies and sent to jail in Florida, 16-year-old Alyssa Beck enjoyed learning. In the detention center, Alyssa gained her education by teachers passing worksheets that were appropriate for middle schoolers, under the cell door, which led to a room the size of a parking spot, that she was confined to. When she had questions she would crouch so she could speak through the flap in the cell door. Not only did her previous mistakes in life set her back but also the fact that she was undereducated made it harder for Alyssa to bounce back from her past.

In correction centers, where juveniles do not have to be in solitary confinement, it is very different. The students are in classes based on age, and the class sizes are very large to accommodate all students. But, there are some major drawbacks. In science classes, much of the science equipment is banned because of the possibility of it being used as a weapon.

An analysis by a Connecticut Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee found that the education was “fragmented and expensive ” and “lacking quality