Youth justice reform urged
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
The state needs to immediately remedy crowding and staff shortages at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility and the Alder Street youth detention facility to improve conditions at both sites, said a visiting national expert on juvenile detention.
"There are more youth in the facilities than they were designed to work with," David Roush, director of the National Juvenile Detention Association, a center for research and professional development, said yesterday.
Roush suggested that the state pursue programs that act as alternatives to incarceration.
"It is a smarter approach, and it is a more cost-effective approach," he said. "Locked facilities are the most expensive option available to the court."
His recommendation echoes statements made earlier this month by Sharon Agnew, executive director of the Office of Youth Services. "We are working with family court judges to improve options for youthful offenders instead of sending them to HYCF," Agnew said.
Roush was part of a meeting of top-level state policymakers within the juvenile justice system and a team of national experts that concluded last week. The policymakers agreed to move forward with three points aimed at reforming antiquated practices and providing alternatives to jail time.
The state officials concluded that alternatives to incarceration must be developed that look out for the best interest of the youth while maintaining an acceptable level of public safety. They also agreed to revamp training practices and codes of conduct for all employees working with children in the juvenile justice system, and eliminate duplicated programs that operate in different departments.
HYCF has 40 cells that house convicted juvenile offenders. As of yesterday, it had 64 juveniles, 10 girls and 54 boys in separate facilities.
Hale Ho'omalu, the Adler Street detention facility, holds youths awaiting court appearances.
Roush said that crowding at juvenile facilities is a common problem nationwide.
He also said insufficient staff was an obstacle confronting the state. He said that addressing staffing and crowding are imperative, otherwise continued reform will be stymied.
"You can rationalize until the cows come home, but the bottom line is that there are certain basic things that need to be done in youth facilities" before other issues can be addressed, he said.
Roush, who has worked in the juvenile justice sector for 33 years and participated in planning workshops across the country, said the meetings with state officials were "the most positive we've had."
The meetings held last week are the latest step that the state has taken to change the juvenile justice system and to respond to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union last August that alleged crowding, rape and brutality at the HYCF.
The group met with officials from the HYCF, the Office of Youth Services, the attorney general's office, Family Court, the prosecutor's office, the public defenders office, and others.
Kenneth Ling, chief court administrator, hailed the co-operation at the meetings. He said he was enthused that such a diverse group of policymakers agreed that alternatives to confinement at HYCF are needed.
He said some of the judges at the meetings were familiar with how crowding at HYCF complicated life for the juveniles and the employees.
"The judges are in a very tough position," Ling said. "Unless there are programs, they ( the judges) have to look out for the kid and the public."
Roush said he has watched a similar process take hold in other parts of the country.
"This is the most important thing, this jurisdictional planning," he said. "We have been in 15 other jurisdictions and this strategy has significantly provided results."
Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
