The report “Please Don’t Give Up on Us: Stories From Children and Youth Incarcerated in California” was commissioned by the Office of Youth and Community Restoration. The report explores youth justice through the perspectives of young people who are or have been incarcerated, and outlines insights and recommendations aimed at ensuring youth receive the support, stability, and understanding necessary to reach their full potential. 

Between the ages of 12 and 15 most young people are still learning to communicate, regulate their emotions, and  just starting to figure out who they are. They do this while competing in team sports, studying for tests, playing with neighbors, and thinking about what their life might look like after high school graduation. For some, it is the age when they are first detained by the justice system. For others, their first interaction with the system occurs as early as elementary school. 

It isn’t until our mid-twenties that the areas of the brain that govern self-regulation, decision-making, and impulse control are fully developed. This can lead to young people making decisions that, while impulsive or risky, seem perfectly rational to them. Testing boundaries—sneaking out with friends and getting into fights— is a normal part of growing up for many adolescents, regardless of background or circumstances.  

Many young people who become court-involved display typical teenage behavior that is met with a criminal justice response, instead of a behavioral health response. Nearly half of youth are arrested as a result of a misdemeanor, and only 21% are arrested for a violent offense. Research shows that illegal activity increases during adolescence, peaking in the mid-twenties, and then steeply declining as young peoples’ brains finish developing.   

However, when youth experience trauma and continuous stress, crucial developmental processes in the brain that break cycles of risk-taking behavior are disrupted. Those who are also experiencing instability in their daily lives often face behavioral and emotional challenges that make them more likely to engage in illegal activity. 

Young people who have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, or exposure to violence before the age of 18, can often experience lasting impacts on brain development and behavior. Among youth who have been incarcerated, 90% are survivors or have witnessed serious violence and 26% reported a history of physical and/or sexual abuse. In fact, truancy, running away, substance use, and other common offenses are standard signs of child abuse.   

Prolonged or extremely intense stress can lead to “toxic stress,” which alters the development of the parts of young peoples’ brains responsible for emotional regulation and logical decision making. Without intervention, youth suffering from toxic stress are more likely to act impulsively, have aggressive outbursts, and participate in behavior that results in their arrest. Toxic stress can also lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which affects 30% of youth involved in the justice system.

Children and youth do not often have the resources to remove themselves from harmful environments, especially when that environment is their home. When a child experiences constant violence, uncertainty, and instability, their brain can adapt to prioritize survival over long-term thinking. This makes it more difficult for them to plan ahead, make thoughtful decisions, and regulate their emotions. They often describe their reactions to this level of stress—petty theft, gang involvement, acting out in school—as survival strategies. 

While the impacts of toxic stress and harmful living environments present significant challenges for young people trying to find their place in the world, when given the right support, they can build new brain pathways, heal from trauma, and learn to respond to situations differently. Communities have the opportunity to use court involvement to provide necessary interventions and guidance— mental health support, education, mentorship, community engagement—that set youth up to thrive in adulthood. The presence of even just one safe, stable, nurturing, and trusted adult relationship in a young person’s life has been shown to mitigate the impacts of ACEs.

Research shows that young people who participate in programs that emphasize healing and keep them connected to their community, as opposed to isolating and punitive approaches, display better mental health outcomes and are more motivated to make positive changes. Rehabilitation, education, and trauma-informed care have the power to break cycles of harm and destructive behavior, leading to fewer arrests, instances of violence, and an increased likelihood of completing school.  

All youth involved in the justice system will return to their communities. The goal of the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) is to help ensure young people are prepared to succeed in adulthood when they do, and are able to have a positive impact on their community.  

Learn more about how OYCR is helping communities across the state apply what we know about developmentally-appropriate care that effectively teaches accountability and supports healing in Please Don’t Give Up on Us: Stories From Children and Youth Incarcerated in California. The report explores youth justice through the perspectives of young people who are or have been incarcerated, and outlines insights and recommendations aimed at ensuring youth receive the support, stability, and understanding necessary to reach their full potential. By incorporating firsthand accounts, research, and system analysis, Don’t Give Up on Us illustrates the power of a healing-centered approach to youth justice.  

The report was commissioned by the California Health & Human Services Agency’s Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) and prepared by The Social Changery, with contributions by the OYCR Youth Advisory Board.