Pennsylvania needs to do more to deliver justice for children
As a legislator fighting to improve conditions for children, I’ve invited Bree Hood, an individual who has directly experienced harm within the juvenile legal system, to join me as we recognize the importance of protecting children in residential facilities.
We are partnering in this advocacy because I believe the lived experiences of young people and their families have given them a unique perspective. It is past time to elevate their voices as we work to improve our laws that protect young people across the Commonwealth.
Our current state regulations simply do not adequately protect children. From Wordsworth Academy where a staff member’s improper restraint led to a child’s death, to Philadelphia’s Juvenile Justice Services Center where children experience excessive solitary confinement, Pennsylvania has repeatedly failed to keep children safe in our juvenile legal system.
In 2021, Pennsylvania’s bipartisan Juvenile Justice Task Force agreed. It’s been 4½ years since the task force’s report was released, and yet only two of the 35 legislative recommendations have been enacted into law. We must not wait to protect our children.
As a legislator, I’ve introduced three bills in the Pennsylvania House that were taken from the task force’s recommendations:
House Bill 1573 would require publication of key data including demographics of youth in placement, staffing ratios, programming offered, and average length of stay in each facility. Publicly available data ultimately creates a safer environment for youth by allowing stakeholders to discover trends and understand challenges.
House Bill 1576 would provide for the state to reimburse counties for 50% of their costs for youth indigent defense, supporting quality legal representation for youth and protecting their rights in court.