Freedom for She, but not for He?

[thebeave]

From my local paper:

California looks to Santa Clara County model to stop incarceration of girls

Amid dramatic declines in the number of incarcerated youth over two decades, Santa Clara County is one of a growing number of areas looking critically at the practice of locking up girls and gender-expansive youth (a term that includes transgender, nonbinary and gender-fluid youth). The new approach centers on providing community-based support while taking a hard look at whether girls actually pose a public safety threat. Many are now diverted before they ever reach juvenile hall or a courtroom.

The Santa Clara County initiative is considered so successful that California officials are launching an effort to replicate it statewide.

From 2018 to 2020, the number of girls admitted to juvenile detention facilities in Santa Clara County dropped by 58%, according to the New York-based Vera Institute for Justice. In a one-year period ending in April 2022, the number of girls in the county juvenile hall was either zero or one. County officials say there are currently three girls locked up, including two housed locally rather than in the state youth prison system, which is now shutting down. By comparison, in December there were an average of 67 boys in the county’s juvenile hall.

I'm certainly not opposed to considering alternatives to incarceration for juveniles for certain crimes, but shouldn't everyone be included? I'm surprised this program has made it this far, and not been struck down due to violations of state and federal anti-discrimination laws. Especially ironic is that it is a judge who has been advocating this.

 

[Rhea]

Subscription required.

 

[Rhea]

Here’s a different source - from Santa Clara COunty government site

https://womenspolicy.sccgov.org/gender-justice-reform

It looks like they are trying to keep girls out of Juvie who have done nothing wrong and are there only because there is no other safe place to put them.


Maybe this is not a sever problem with the male juvenile population and hence the reason to start here.

The courts and probation have implemented practice changes aimed at eliminating the practice of confining girls and gender-expansive youth for their own safety or to connect them to resources. Government and community stakeholders are working together to avoid custody by fully exploring programming to support girls and gender-expansive youth in their community. The County has committed to investing in new economic and housing supports for young people and their families to prevent girls and gender-expansive youth from sitting in Juvenile Hall because they have nowhere else to go.

Seems like a good idea. What are your objections, Beave?

 

[Rhea]

Here’s the organization driving it. They claim there are currently many gender disparities that negatively affect girls and gender expansive people. They are trying to fix those disparities. What are the objections to that?

Ending Girls’ Incarceration in California

Vera works closely with government and civic leaders to urgently build and improve justice systems that ensure fairness, promote safety, and strengthen communities.

www.vera.org

The organization seeks to end mass incarceration for ALL humans, and this action to ensure fairness for girls is just one of many programs they do. Indeed, it looks like they sought “Justice for He” long before they sought “Justice for She.” So hooray for them adding this to their actions.

We are advocates, researchers and activists working to end mass incarceration.​

Vera is powered by hundreds of researchers and advocates working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all.

Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change.

We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone in the system is treated with dignity.

 

[Rhea]

I'm certainly not opposed to considering alternatives to incarceration for juveniles for certain crimes, but shouldn't everyone be included? I'm surprised this program has made it this far, and not been struck down due to violations of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

It sounds like this is a complaint you should have made 20 years ago about women not being included in reforms.

Just sayin’.

 

[laughing dog]

You don’t get it - if you do not help “everyone” then it is not fair so you should help no one.