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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Commonwealth Court judge on Wednesday heard arguments in Philadelphia’s request that the state take juvenile offenders who’ve been sentenced to state facilities. The city is hoping to relieve overcrowding that is leading to dangerous conditions at the Juvenile Justice Services Center.

Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states with no limit on how young a juvenile can be tried in adult court and exposed to adult jails and prisons. In Lawrence County in 2009, for example, 11-year-old Jordan Brown was charged in adult court for the fatal shooting of his father’s fiancee. He was too young to shave but faced a mandatory life sentence.

The number of young people detained at Philadelphia’s juvenile jail has reached “unprecedented levels,” with more than 30 children sleeping on floors and living amid conditions that will cause “serious harm” if unaddressed, the City of Philadelphia said in a recent court filing as part of its ongoing lawsuit against the state.

Five years ago, I met a friend for dinner in New York City. Before we went inside, my friend offered to share a joint. As I was holding the joint, an unmarked car pulled up. Four police officers came toward me, and I dropped the joint. I was arrested, handcuffed, taken to the police station, and put in a holding cell before being charged and released pending a hearing.

From now until Sunday, Philadelphia’s Cherry Street Pier is home to an art installation in which young people who have served time in prison are the focus. NBC10’s Rosemary Connors shows us the message they want to convey.